Case total rises by 2,510, with another 28 deaths

The Department of Health reported an additional 2,510 cases of COVID- 19 on Saturday, bringing total infections since the pandemicreached Pennsylvania in March to 208,027.

“Daily increases are now the highest they have ever been since the start of the pandemic,” the department said in a news release, adding that 28 additional deaths raised that toll to 8,812.

Two deaths were in Northampton County, which reported 87 additional cases. Lehigh County had113 additional cases and no deaths. Lehigh Valley cases now total 12,379, with 681 deaths.

The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases in Pennsylvania was 2,201 on Saturday, up 32% from 1,668 a week ago.

Philadelphia had the most additional cases, with 245, followed by Allegheny with 174 and Montgomery with 144.

The department said 2.3 million people have tested negative.

The number of hospitalized patients rose by six to 1,289, but the number on ventilators fell by 11 to 120. In Lehigh County, 67people are hospitalized, with six on ventilators. Northampton County’s one hospitalized patient is on a ventilator.

Most hospitalized patients are 65 or older and most deaths have occurred in that age group. But the department continues to see significant increases among younger age groups, particularly 19-24.

Nursing and personal care homes have reported 26,149 resident cases and 5,653 employee cases for a total of 31,802 at 1,070 facilities in 63 counties.