7,166 additional cases; fewer than 1,000 COVID-19 patients in intensive care

The Health Department reported 7,166 additional coronavirus infections Saturday, although the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care fell below 1,000 for the first time since Dec. 1, according to the numbers available midday.

Total hospitalizations also continued their decline.

The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases was 6,924, down 13% from 8,003 a week ago, marking the second consecutive daily decline, indicating a possible new plateau after a two-week increase.

There were 231 deaths reported Saturday, compared to 215 on Friday. More than 1,500 Pennsylvanians died COVID-related deaths in the past week, and 19,188 have died since the start of the pandemic last March. Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities account for 9,985, or 52% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths.

Testing

There were 20,655 test results reported Saturday, with 28.7% of them positive, compared to 27.8% on Friday. The overall positive test rate is 16.3% since the state’s first cases were reported March 7. The total marks the highest number of test results reported in a week. The percent positive has been declining from a peak of 46% on Dec. 29.

Hospitalizations

The state reported 4,743 hospitalized with COVID-19 on Saturday, down about 100 from the day before. There were 962 in intensive care and 594 on ventilators, both numbers declining to levels that haven’t been seen in weeks.

Vaccinations

The state’s hospitals and health systems have administered 427,713 doses of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna-NIH vaccines since they began receiving shipments a month ago. That total is exclusive of vaccination clinics in skilled nursing homes administered by Walgreens and CVS through a separate federal program.

Almost 60,000 have gotten both required injections, while 307,915 have gotten their first dose.

Lehigh Valley

Cases: 514 new cases (273 in Lehigh County, 241 in Northampton County), compared to 479 the day before. That brings the total to 45,641.

Deaths: 10 new deaths (seven in Lehigh County and three in Northampton), compared to 13 the day before. That brings the total to 1,109 local deaths.

Morning Call senior journalist Eugene Tauber can be reached at etauber@mcall.com.

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