Pennsylvania Coronavirus Cases Up To 41

HARRISBURG, PA — The number of novel coronavirus in Pennsylvania nearly doubled from Thursday to Friday. The state now has 41 cases, officials said during a 5 p.m. news conference.

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Here are the cases by county:

• Bucks (3)
• Chester (1)
• Cumberland (3)
• Delaware (6)
• Monroe (3)
• Montgomery (18)
• Northampton (1)
• Philadelphia (3)
• Pike (1)
• Washington (1)
• Wayne (1)

On Thursday, state officials were reporting 21 cases.

The virus, also known as COVID-19, on Friday prompted Governor Tom Wolf to shut schools down statewide.

According to Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine, more than 300 Pennsylvanians have been tested. She said more than 100 tests are pending, which means they're on their way to the lab or being processed at the lab.

"Please stay calm. We have the networks in place," Levine said.

All insurance companies in Pennsylvania and Medicaid will cover the COVID-19 test, Levine confirmed. There is no testing backlog, Levine said. She also noted that health care providers can order the tests and there are at least two commercial providers that are doing testing.

Levine said if you do not have any symptoms, you do not need to be tested. If you have mild symptoms, like a runny nose, you do not need to be tested. Residents with a temperature over 100 degrees or who are experiencing a shortness of breath or cough should contact their healthcare provider to determine if they should be tested.

If you do not have a healthcare provider and are experiencing symptoms, you should call your hospital before going to the emergency room. "Please don't go directly to the emergency department," Levine said.

The number of cases of the illness continue to rise nationwide, and additional school closures are being announced. The World Health Organization on Wednesday officially declared the outbreak a pandemic.

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