1,380 more virus cases reported in Pa. Friday

The state reported more than 1,300 additional cases of the coronavirus for the third straight day Friday, and the Department of Health said it will open an outdoor testing clinic in Berks County next week to contain the “rapid increase” of virus cases there.

The 1,380 newly reported cases bring the statewide total to 169,308, with 26 additional

The state had 1,380 newly reported cases of the coronavirus, the third day above 1,300 cases.

The seven-day average was 1,146, compared to 865 a week ago. Hospitalizations were up to 734, compared to less than 500 for most of last month.

The were nine more deaths, bringing the total to 8,308.

Lehigh County reported 26 new cases, Northampton County 23. There were no deaths in the Lehigh Valley.

cases in Lehigh County and 23 in Northampton County. No new deaths were reported in the Lehigh Valley.

Thecase count wasthe highest since April 30 and the seven-day movingaverage of newlyreported cases was 1,146 on Friday, up significantly from 865 a weekago.

The state reported 1,309 additional cases on Wednesday, and on Thursday following a report of 1,376 cases Gov. Tom Wolf said he believed several factors might be behind the surge.

Those include the return of college and university students to campuses and the advent of colder weather and flu season.

But Wolf said the state leaders and hospitals now “have much greater capacity than we have had before” in terms of personal protective equipment stockpiles, available ventilators, contact tracing abilities and other means of dealing with the virus.

At the sametime, the numberof people tested in Pennsylvania for the virus has increased steadily.

Department data shows the daily number of people tested often was between 10,000 and 20,000 in June and early July. On somerecent days, it has surpassed 30,000.

The governor said he has been encouraged by the number of people wearing masks.

“More and more Pennsylvanians are making up their minds to wearamask,” Wolfsaid. “We’ve become pretty good at it in Pennsylvania, and that’s making a difference, I think. A big difference.”

Wolf acknowledged there have been larger numbers of people hospitalized for the virus in recent days.

There were 734 people hospitalized for the virus around midday on Friday. The number for much of September stayed was below 500. Nine more coronavirus deaths statewide were reported to bring the total to 8,308.

The new Berks County testing clinic will be in the Front Street Parking lot of at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.

Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said in a newsrelease there have been 1,469 additional cases of the virus in Berks County since the start of September, with the county reporting 87 additional cases Friday, second only to Philadelphia’s 249.

“Thesetesting sites will beopen to anyone who feels they need a test. It is important that even people with no symptoms who test positive isolate and quarantine to stop the spread of COVID- 19,” Levine said in the release.