Fall Coronavirus Surge Accelerating In Pennsylvania, Data Shows

PENNSYLVANIA — The fall resurgence of the coronavirus continues to accelerate in Pennsylvania, new data shows.

On Monday, Pennsylvania officials said the statewide percent-positivity rate went up by more than a percentage point in the past week. Counties with concerning percent-positivity rates are increasing and cases continue to trend upward. Additionally, the incidence rate of the virus is up, hospitalizations have increased, and more patients are on ventilators.

Here is the data the state tracks weekly to determine the status of the pandemic. (The data was last updated on Oct. 30.)

Newly reported cases

The state saw a seven-day case increase of 14,516 cases. The previous seven-day increase was 10,127 cases. That means there were 4,389 more new cases across the state in the past week compared to the previous seven-day period.

As of Monday, Pennsylvania has reported a total of 211,996 coronavirus cases. "Daily increases are now the highest they have ever been since the start of the pandemic," the Department of Health said. Of the total cases, 76 percent of patients have recovered.

Incidence rate

The incidence rate of the virus per 100,000 residents increased from a rate of 80.6 to 103.9.

Test positivity rate

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the test positivity rate is up to 6.1 percent. The week before, it stood at 5 percent. Among those with the highest rates are Bradford (12.4 percent), Armstrong (11.9 percent), Schuylkill (11.1 percent) and Franklin (10.3 percent)

The following counties have percent positivity rates above 5 percent:

• Indiana (9.8 percent)
• Lebanon (9.7 percent)
• Berks (9.3 percent)
• Tioga (9.3 percent)
• Huntingdon (9.1 percent)
• Venango (8.7 percent)
• Wyoming (8.1 percent)
• Bedford (8.0 percent)
• Fulton (7.8 percent)
• Philadelphia (7.8 percent)
• Luzerne (7.7 percent)
• Jefferson (7.6 percent)
• Mifflin (7.6 percent)
• Potter (7.3 percent)
• Washington (7.3 percent)
• Westmoreland (7.2 percent)
• York (7.2 percent)
• Delaware (6.9 percent)
• Lawrence (6.8 percent)
• Dauphin (6.6 percent)
• Elk (6.4 percent)
• Centre (6.1 percent)
• Butler (6.0 percent)
• Lehigh (6.0 percent)
• Mercer (6.0 percent)
• Clearfield (5.8 percent)
• Lackawanna (5.8 percent)
• Lancaster (5.8 percent)
• Blair (5.6 percent)
• Sullivan (5.6 percent)
• Monroe (5.4 percent)
• Northumberland (5.4 percent)
• Erie (5.3 percent)
• Cumberland (5.2 percent)
• Snyder (5.2 percent)
• Somerset (5.1 percent)

Average daily COVID-19 hospitalizations

Hospitalization are also up across Pennsylvania. The average number of people hospitalized due to the virus jumped from 936 the week before to nearly 1167 in the most recent seven-day period.

Average daily COVID-19 patients on ventilators

More people are on ventilators as well. The average daily COVID-19 patients on ventilators went from 100.6 to 118.7 in the most recent seven-day period.

Percent of hospital emergency department visits due to COVID-like illness

The percent of hospital emergency department visits due to COVID-like illness went from 0.8 to 0.9 over the most recent seven-day period.

Governor Wolf expressed concern about the troubling trends, saying Monday Pennsylvania cannot relax its mitigation efforts.

"We call on Pennsylvanians to wear a mask, wash their hands frequently, practice social distancing, avoid gatherings, download the COVID Alert PA app, and answer the call when a public health professional or case investigator call. Together, we are united in this fight and can work to mitigate the spread of this dangerous virus," he said in a statement.