PA Confirms 560 Coronavirus Cases Overnight, 5 Deaths

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania's coronavirus cases shot up by 560 overnight, health officials announced Thursday. Five more people died, bringing the statewide death total to 16. One of those deaths was a 62-year-old Montgomery County man.

Thursday's reported cases were the state's largest single-day increase since the outbreak began. As of Thursday, Pennsylvania has confirmed 1,687 total cases in 48 counties.

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Philadelphia has had a drastic spike in cases, with 402 people testing positive for COVID-19. Montgomery County has 282 cases, Delaware County has 156 cases, Bucks County has 107 cases, and Chester County reports 84 cases. A full county break down can be found here.

Of the positive cases, 46 percent are aged 50 and older. Patients in the 25 to 49 age bracket make up 39 percent of the cases as of Thursday.

"It's very important that younger adults not be complacent about their susceptibility to COVID-19," said Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine.

Levine said more than 170 Pennsylvanians have required hospitalization due to COVID-19 since March 6 — when the state confirmed its first case. That's about 10 percent of positive cases.

Of those hospitalizations, 56 patients have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Of those in the ICU, 32 have required a ventilator, Levine said.

Of those hospitalized, approximately 46 percent are over the age of 65. Many have chronic medical conditions, Levine said. Of the 16 deaths, 68 percent have been age 65 or older.

"We're just seeing the beginning of this crisis," Gov. Tom Wolf said. "We're not fighting a battle here, we're fighting a war."

Wolf asked everyone to "do their part" to control the spread by staying home.

The developments come as 10 Pennsylvania counties are now under a Stay at Home order, which was instituted Monday across Philadelphia and its suburbs, as well as Pittsburgh.

The order was expanded Wednesday and now includes the following counties: Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia.

Under the stay-at-home order, people can only leave their home for essential tasks, such as to buy food and pharmaceuticals. Learn more: Here's What You Can Do During PA's 'Stay At Home' Order

Last week, Wolf ordered that all nonessential businesses close their physical locations. Enforcement on that statewide order began Monday.

Schools are closed statewide at least through April 6.

>>>Full coverage of coronavirus in Pennsylvania