HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed that as of 12 a.m., Aug. 31, there are 521 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the state-wide total to 134,025.
According to the department’s Web site, Clearfield County has had 227 total cases while 5,492 patients have tested negative for the virus. Of those cases, 177 are confirmed and 50 are probable.
The number of tests administered within the last seven days, between Aug. 24 and Aug. 30, is 159,917 with 4,456 positive cases.
There were 22,467 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., Aug. 30. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
There are 7,673 total Pennsylvania deaths attributed to COVID-19, but no new deaths were reported Aug. 31. County-specific information and a state-wide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.
Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine reminds that mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home, and consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Beginning Aug. 29, the department began publishing COVID-19 case counts using the updated standardized case definition for COVID-19 from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists.
This revised case definition updates criteria for case identification and case classification based on the continued evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. It updates probable case classifications and adds suspect case classifications.
The definition for confirmed cases using a positive PCR test has not changed. Viral antigen tests, which identify people who are likely currently infected, will now be considered a probable case, even if the individual has no symptoms or exposure history.
Persons with a positive antibody (serology) test, moving forward, will no longer be considered a probable case. However, cases previously counted as probable cases, using the prior national case definition, will remain counted as probable cases.
There are 10 cases, which have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases, and there are 646 Pennsylvania patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.
There are 1,524,195 patients who have tested negative state-wide to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows:
- 1 percent are ages 0-4;
- Nearly 2 percent are ages 5-12;
- Nearly 4 percent are ages 13-18;
- Nearly 10 percent are ages 19-24;
- Nearly 38 percent are ages 25-49;
- Nearly 23 percent are ages 50-64; and
- Approximately 23 percent are ages 65 or older.
Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 25-49, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
The department said it is seeing significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases among younger age groups, particularly 19- to 24-year-olds.
An alert was sent to healthcare providers about the changing COVID-19 case demographics, as there are more cases in younger age groups than in those 50-64 and 65-plus.
The following regions saw significant increases among 19- to 24-year-olds in each month from April to present in August:
- SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 19 percent of cases so far in August;
- NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 24 percent of cases so far in August;
- NE – 6 percent of cases in April to nearly 20 percent of cases so far in August;
- SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 13 percent of cases so far in August;
- SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 14 percent of cases so far in August; and
- NW– Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 11 percent of cases so far in August.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 21,034 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,498 cases among employees, for a total of 25,532 at 929 distinct facilities in61 counties.
Out of the total deaths, 5,189 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.
It was also noted that approximately 9,627 of Pennsylvania’s total cases are among health care workers.
For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov. Currently, all 67 counties are in the green phase of reopening.