Pennsylvania marks 25,000 deaths

Pennsylvania reached another landmark number Monday in its yearlong struggle with the coronavirus pandemic, marking 25,015 state residents who have died of COVID-19.

Monday’s total comes as the rate of COVID-related deaths has fallen by half over the last month, to 32 deaths per day, and is seven times less than the devastating record of 223 deaths per day in mid-January.

The first death in Pennsylvania was reported March 18 of last year in Northampton County.

The state Health Department reported a three-day total of 10,101 additional coronavirus cases since Friday. The department reported that technical issues prevented it from issuing accurate daily updates over the weekend.

Northampton County still has the highest seven-day population-adjusted case rate, although its three-day average puts it in fourth place behind Clearfield, Wyoming and Centre counties.

The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases statewide was 3,833, up 29% from 2,977 a week ago. The rate is up more than 48% over the last 30 days.

To date, there have been 1,015,268 infections statewide since the start of the pandemic.

One-third of eligible Pennsylvanians has received at least one COVID-19 vaccination, according to data combined from the state and Philadelphia health departments, with 5.48 million shots going into 3.49 million arms.

Close to 2 million people, or 18.7% of the eligible 16-and-over population, are fully vaccinated throughout the 67 counties. Another 1.5 million are waiting for their follow-up shot.

More than 208,000 Lehigh Valley residents have gotten at least one jab so far, accounting for almost 38% of those eligible. About 111,000 local residents, more than one in five, are fully vaccinated, and 97,300 are waiting for their second shot.

There were 1,916 people hospitalized as of midday Monday, compared with 1,856 Sunday. Of those, 209 were on ventilators and 389 were in intensive care beds.

The average number of people hospitalized with COVID is up almost 10% in the last week.

Local hospital systems report 153 patients Monday, compared with 151 Sunday, with 25 in intensive care and 16 on ventilators.

In the Lehigh Valley, 732 additional cases were reported over three days, or an average of 244 per day, with 375 in Lehigh County and 357 in Northampton County. That brings the total to 63,777.

One new death was reported in Northampton County, compared with one the day before. That brings the total to 1,480 (804 in Lehigh and 676 in Northampton).