HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed that as of 12 a.m., Sept. 1, there are 770 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the state-wide total to 134,795.
According to the department’s Web site, Clearfield County has had 228 total cases while 5,543 patients have tested negative for the virus. Of those cases, 177 are confirmed and 51 are probable.
The number of tests administered within the last seven days, between Aug. 25 and Aug. 31, is 163,092 with 4,551 positive cases.
There were 22,681 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., Aug. 31. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
There are 7,691 total Pennsylvania deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 18 new deaths. 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 15 Pennsylvania cases, which have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases, and 646 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.
There are 1,539,969 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows:
- Approximately 1 percent are ages 0-4;
- Nearly 2 percent are ages 5-12;
- Nearly 4 percent are ages 13-18;
- Approximately 10 percent are ages 19-24;
- Nearly 38 percent are ages 25-49;
- Approximately 22 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 Aug. 31:
- SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 19 percent of cases in August;
- NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 25 percent of cases in August;
- NE – 6 percent of cases in April to approximately 20 percent of cases in August;
- SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to approximately 13 percent of cases in August;
- SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 14 percent of cases in August; and
- NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to 11 percent of cases in August.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 21,074 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,510 cases among employees, for a total of 25,584 at 930 distinct facilities in 61 counties.
Out of the total deaths, 5,192 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.
It was also noted that approximately 9,665 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.