Average case count continue to rise
The state Health Department reported 4,255 additional coronavirus cases Tuesday. The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases was 4,194, up 4% from 4,050 a week ago, and up 73% from a month ago.
The northeast health care region continues to lead the state’s increase, with Wyoming County leading the region. Wyoming ’s population-adjusted additional cases have increased 40% in a week, to 74 additional cases per day per 100,000 people. It has led the state for a solid week. Monroe ranks second in the state with a rate of 51 cases per day per 100,000, followed by Northampton, at 50 cases per day per 100,000. Northampton had led the state last week until Wyoming’s recent surge.
To date, there have been 1.05 million infections statewide since the start of the pandemic.
More than 6.26 million vaccinations have been administered to 3.9 million Pennsylvanians according to data combined from the Philadelphia and state health departments. Over 2.36 million people statewide are fully immunized against COVID-19, accounting for 22.6% of the 16-and-older population that is eligible to be vaccinated. An additional 1.53 million people — 14.7% of those approved for vaccination — have received the first of their two required shots.
There are more than 235,000 Lehigh Valley residents who have received at least one of the 361,000 vaccinations administered locally, with 126,000 people — 23% of those eligible — fully immunized, and another 109,000 people — 20% of those eligible —waiting for their second shot.
There were 37 deaths reported Tuesday. The sevenday moving average of deaths per day is 27, compared with 32 a week ago.
There were 2,384 people hospitalized as of midday Tuesday compared with 2,247 Monday. Of those, 224 were on ventilators, and 446 were in intensive care beds. Daily hospitalizations have increased 17% in the last week and more than 40% in two weeks.
Hospitals in the Lehigh Valley report stable numbers, with 183 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 31 of whom are in intensive care, and 13 on ventilators.
The Lehigh Valley reported 312 additional cases, 148 in Lehigh County and 164 in Northampton County. That brings the total to 66,358.
Three new deaths, all in Lehigh County, bring the region’s total to 1,492, (811 in Lehigh, and 681 in Northampton).
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