PA Reports Deadliest COVID-19 Day; New Measures May Be Coming

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania reported a record number of new coronavirus deaths Wednesday, making it the deadliest day of the pandemic, according to state data. The developments come as officials have warned that more mitigation measures could be on the way very soon.

The state's death toll rose to 11,762 Wednesday as 220 new deaths were reported. It was the highest single-day death increase since April 25, when 184 deaths were reported.

Cases are still rising rapidly; there were 8,703 additional cases reported Wednesday, bringing the total to 445,317. Of those, 58 percent have recovered.

As of Wednesday morning, there are 5,561 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. Of that number, 1,160 patients are in the intensive care unit.

The trend in the 14-day moving average of number of hospitalized patients per day has increased by nearly 4,300 since the end of September.

The state is reporting that just 12.8 of its adult ICU beds remain available.

Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday that the additional mitigation measures may be needed soon to curb the accelerating coronavirus outbreak in the state.

"We will be making that decision in the next few days," Wolf said. He did not offer specifics as to what further measures are under consideration. "We are looking at all kinds of things," he said, adding that more recommendations could be coming "very shortly."

No further specifics have been announced since then. Check back to Patch for updates.