2 PA Counties In 'Red Zone' In New White House Task Force Report

PENNSYLVANIA — The White House Coronavirus Task Force has issued its latest report on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Pennsylvania, listing two counties in the "red" zone and nine in the "yellow" zone.

State-level reports summarize coronavirus activity and offer recommendations to state leaders based on trends. Pennsylvania's most recent report was dated Sept. 20.

The Center for Public Integrity has been collecting and disseminating the task force weekly reports, which are sent by the task force to governors around the country. The reports aren't made public by the task force.

Pennsylvania counties listed as being in the red zone are Centre and Indiana. Counties in the red zone have reported new cases above 100 per 100,000 residents and a diagnostic test positivity result above 10 percent.

Counties in the yellow zone include York, Chester, Berks, Lebanon, Union, Bedford, Mufflin, Perry, and Juniata. Those counties have reported new cases between 10 and 100 per 100,000 residents and a diagnostic test positivity result between 5 and 10 percent, or one qualifying condition for red zones.

Overall, Pennsylvania is in the yellow zone for cases, indicating between 10 and 50 cases per 100,000 of the population, with the 41st highest rate in the week preceding the report. The state is listed in the green zone for test positivity.

The report notes that many counties, including Centre, Lebanon, Indiana, Washington and Crawford, are experiencing an increase in cases among young adults that may be associated with the opening of schools and colleges. RELATED: Coronavirus Spike At Penn State Alarms Top PA Health Officials

It also noted that Pennsylvania's new case rate is below the national average. Pennsylvania had 45 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the week prior to the report's creation. The national average is 86 cases per 100,000 residents.

The report also makes recommendations on how Pennsylvania should proceed in its handling of the pandemic.

Among those, the White House Coronavirus Task Force notes high volume testing and mask wearing is essential in curbing infection spikes as schools begin to reopen.

The task force also recommends the state explore the use of wastewater surveillance to detect cases early and direct public health interventions.

Other recommendations include that all institutions of higher education be required to develop a plan for surge testing and isolation on campus. Strong mitigation measures should be required on campuses, including outside study areas, limits on bar patronage, and student gatherings.

It also recommends the state develop weekly surveillance testing among critical populations to monitor the degree of community spread. The report can be viewed in full here.

Pennsylvania has had a total of 152,544 cases and 8,062 deaths since the onset of the pandemic as of Wednesday data.