Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, today released a weekly status update detailing state mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Panel, highlighting an increase in cases of seven days of 40,407, a statewide positivity of 15.0% and all 67 counties with substantial transmission status.
The update includes the following:
The panel is designed to provide early warning signs of factors affecting the state’s mitigation efforts. The data available on the early warning monitoring panel include differences from week to week cases, incidence rates, percentage of positivity testing and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency visits linked to COVID-19. This week’s update compares the period from December 25 to December 31 with the previous seven days, from December 18 to 24.
“Although the decrease in our positivity rate across the state is small, it is still encouraging,” said Governor Wolf. “The sacrifices that the inhabitants of Pennsylvania made on holidays to celebrate differently than usual and with people in their home are signs of our continued resistance and commitment to fight COVID-19. We must continue these best practices to stay safe and keep our friends, family and loved ones safe while COVID-19 remains a threat in our communities.
As of Thursday, December 31, the state recorded an increase of 40,407 cases in seven days; the previous seven-day increase was 48,883 cases, indicating 8,476 fewer new cases across the state in the previous week compared to the previous week.
The percentage of positivity across the state fell from 15.1% to 15.0% last week. Each county in the state has a worrying percentage of positivity above 5%. This includes 21 counties with a percentage positivity equal to or greater than 20%.
“This week, we report a significant decrease in the number of individuals responding to our case investigations,” said Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine. “We continue to urge the inhabitants of Pennsylvania to respond to the call and complete the investigation of the case, in order to ensure that those with whom they have been in close contact are informed of their exposure. This protects friends, family, loved ones and the healthcare system. Answer the call – answer the call when a public health professional is calling, complete the case investigation over the phone or via the new Connect & Protect form and answer the call to download the free COVID Alert PA application. “
Community Broadcast
As of Friday’s data, all 67 counties were at the substantial level of community transmission, the highest level of transmission.
For the week ending December 31, 67 counties were at the substantial level of transmission.
Cases between 5 and 18 years of age
The Department of Health is providing weekly data on the number of COVID-19 cases across the state between 5 and 18 years old.
Throughout the pandemic, there were 52,917 total cases of COVID-19 between 5 and 18 years of age. Of this total, 3,929 occurred between December 25 and December 31. In the week of December 18 to December 24, there were 4,698 cases of COVID-19 in the age group of 5 to 18 years.
Cases by demographic group are available on the DOH website.
Business Visits
The Department of Health is providing weekly data on the number of individuals who responded to case investigators who spent time in commercial establishments (restaurants, bars, gyms, salons / barber shops) and in mass meetings 14 days before the start of Symptoms of covid19.
It is important to note that due to the recent number of cases, the department is prioritizing case investigations to prevent outbreaks. In addition to the need to answer the call, the expressive number of cases contributes to the low percentages of case investigation data. All of this reinforces the need for the inhabitants of Pennsylvania to take measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Of the 53,947 cases reported between December 20 and 26, 4.4 percent (2,357) answered the question of whether they spent time in a commercial establishment.
Of those who responded, 0.3 percent, or 134, answered yes, they visited a commercial establishment 14 days before the onset of symptoms:
- 39 percent (52) of those who said yes reported going to a restaurant;
- 34 percent (45) of those who said yes reported having gone to some other business establishment;
- 19 percent (26) of those who said yes reported going to a bar;
- 5 percent (6) of those who said yes reported going to a gym / fitness center; and
- 16 percent (21) of those who said yes reported going to a beauty salon / barber shop.
Of the 53,947 confirmed cases, 4.4 percent (2,388) answered the question whether they attended a mass meeting or another major event. Of the 4.2 percent of cases, 7 percent (101) answered yes if they attended a mass meeting or other major event 14 days before the onset of symptoms.
Compared to data reported on December 28, this week’s data showed an increase for people who reported going to a bar (19 percent versus 13 percent last week) and going to a salon / barbershop (16 percent percent versus 7 percent last week). The data showed a decrease for people who reported going to a restaurant (39 percent versus 41 percent last week) and going to a gym (5 percent versus 12 percent last week). The number of those who reported going to another business remained the same (34 percent versus 34 percent last week). The number of people who attended a mass meeting or other major event remained the same at 7 percent compared to last week.
The figures above highlight business environments and mass meetings as possible locations for transmission. With less than 10 percent of respondents asked about the types of businesses they visited or attended a mass meeting answering the question, the department is again reminding residents of Pennsylvania that it is essential that they answer the phone when case investigators call. and provide and complete information for these clinical professionals.
Travel recommendations
In November, the Department of Health provided an updated travel order requiring anyone over the age of 11 visiting from another state to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or to be put into a travel quarantine for 14 days upon entering the Pennsylvania. The travel quarantine orientation was changed to 10 days on December 5 based on the new CDC guidance.
This order does not apply to people moving to and from another state for work or medical treatment, those who have left the state for less than 24 hours or those who comply with a court order, including custody of the children.
It is important that people understand that this Order exists to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. A worrying number of recent cases have been related to travel, and if people are going to travel, we need them to take steps to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community, and that involves having a negative test or being quarantined.
Governor Wolf continues to prioritize the health and safety of all Pennsylvania residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvania residents must continue to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19, regardless of the county in which they live. This includes the use of a mask or facial cover whenever they are in public. It has been shown that COVID-19 spreads easily in the air and contagious carriers can be asymptomatic. Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to wash their hands, socialize, avoid meetings and download COVID Alert PA.