Pa. has 10,000 cases of virus; 616 in Delco, death toll at 13
HARRISBURG (AP) » The Pennsylvania Department of Health says the number of coronavirus cases in the commonwealth has topped
10,000 with another 34 deaths reported, bringing the statewide total to 136.
The department reported Saturday another 1,597 additional positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 10,017 across all but three of the commonwealth’s 67 counties.
In Delaware County, officials reported another
616 cases. The death toll in Delco now stands at 13.
Officials say most patients hospitalized and most deaths have occurred in patients aged 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date, officials said.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a couple of weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
Here is the breakdown across the region as of Saturday:
• Montgomery County:
982 positive cases; 17 deaths
• Delaware County: 616 positive tests; 13 deaths
• Chester County: 250 positive cases; 2 deaths
• Philadelphia: 1,610 positive tests; 24 deaths
• Berks County: 235 positive cases; 2 deaths
“The continued rise in cases combined with our increasing deaths from COVID-19 reflects the seriousness of this situation,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel
Levine said. “We need everyone to listen to the orders in place and to stay calm, stay home and stay safe. We know that these prolonged mitigation effects have been difficult for everyone, but it is essential that everyone follows these orders and does not
go out unless they absolutely must.”
There are 60,013 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows: • Nearly 1% are aged 0-4;
• Nearly 1% are aged 5-12;
• 1% are aged 13-18;
• Nearly 8% are aged 1924;
• 41% are aged 25-49;
• Nearly 29% are aged 5064; and
• Nearly 20% are aged 65 or older.
Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.
All non-life-sustaining businesses are ordered to be closed and schools are closed statewide indefinitely. Currently the entire state is under a stay-at-home order.
NUCLEAR PLANT REFUELING-CORONAVIRUS
Officials at the Limerick nuclear power plant in southeastern Pennsylvania say one of about 1,400 contract workers involved in a refueling outage has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Exelon Generation had notified county health officials that a contract worker at the Montgomery County plant had tested positive Thursday night. The worker, who is from central Pennsylvania, was last on site Monday, and officials say areas he used have been decontaminated.
Company communications director Lacy Dean said two full-time workers were diagnosed earlier but hadn’t been on site since March 20. The refueling outage began March 27.
Some officials and antinuclear activists have suggested postponement of the effort, in which one-third of the nuclear fuel in Unit 1 is to be replaced. But Limerick spokesman Dave Marcheskie said officials “do not have that luxury” since refueling is needed to keep the complex operating at capacity during high-demand summer months.
MEDICAL PERSONNEL-COLLEGE DORMS
Some now-empty eastern Pennsylvania college dorms may be used to house medical professionals who need to self-quarantine or don’t feel comfortable going home to their families after working with patients amid the coronavirus epidemic.
The (Allentown) Morning Call reports that St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network have approached Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Moravian College, Muhlenberg College and Lehigh University about space for medical professionals.
Lehigh Valley Health Network spokesman Brian Downs said the discussions were being held “purely as contingency planning” for caregivers.
Muhlenberg said it will also be using one of its houses for first responders in Lehigh County who have been exposed to positive cases and need to be isolated from their families.
Moravian President Bryon Grigsby noted that Gen. George Washington asked the school, the nation’s sixth-oldest college, to convert the Brethren’s House into a hospital to treat soldiers during the Revolutionary War.
Students across the nation have been sent home to do online classes for the rest of the semester amid the outbreak.
GROCERY STORE
MANAGER-SPITTING
Authorities are trying to identify a man accused of having spat on a grocery store manager during an altercation in western Pennsylvania.
Allegheny County police say Edgewood police were called to the Giant Eagle on Wednesday after a verbal altercation between a customer and a store manager. Police allege that during the altercation, the customer spat on the side of the manager’s face before leaving the store.