More Than 3,450 New COVID Cases Reported In PA Thursday. That's The Most Since April.

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania on Thursday reported the highest number of new coronavirus cases in nearly four months. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there were 3,451 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide case total to 1,259,775.

The state had not reported more than 3,200 new cases a day since early May; on April 29, 4,391 new cases were reported.

The news comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled nearly every Philadelphia and Pittsburgh-area county as having a "high" level of community transmission. To reach the "high" designation, a county must have either more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents, or a positivity rate of 10 percent or higher.

More than 30 Pennsylvania counties have a high level of transmission, including Allegheny, Washington and Beaver counties.

The CDC recommends that residents in counties in both the substantial and high categories wear masks indoors in public, even if they're fully vaccinated.

As of Thursday, there are 1,307 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. Of that number, 338 patients are in the intensive care unit. The statewide percent positivity rate is currently at 6 percent.

According to the CDC, as of Wednesday, 64.5 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated. The Keystone State ranks 5th among all 50 states for total vaccine doses administered.