The Herald's Weekly Virus Update

The Morrisons Cove Herald again is providing articles about the coronavirus.* The information below is the latest that could be included in this week’s edition. This information is taken from the sources listed at the end of the article. Blair and Bedford counties are being moved from the state’s Red Phase to its Yellow Phase on May 15.

AS OF 8:30 A.M. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13

Blair County

• 30 cases confirmed, up from 25 cases confirmed, 0 deaths *

Bedford County

• 29 cases confirmed, up from 26 cases, 1 death *

Nearby counties

Cambria: 44 cases, up from 34; deaths revised down to 1 from 2

Somerset: 32 cases, up from 30 cases; 1 death

Huntingdon: 190 cases, up from 59; 0 deaths **

Fulton: 8 cases, up from 7; 0 deaths

Centre: 122 cases, up from 107; 2 deaths (unchanged)

Pa. Statewide

• Total of 57,991 cases, up from 50,975 last Wednesday

• 3,806 deaths, up from 3,012 last Wednesday

• 237,989 Pa. patients who have tested negative to date, up from 199,925 last Wednesday

• Pa. county with most cases: Philadelphia, 15,218, up from 13,563; with 871 deaths, up from 627 deaths

Nearby states

New York: 338,485 cases, up from 321,192; 26,981 deaths, up from 25,028

New Jersey: 140,743 cases, up from 130,593; 9,508 deaths, up from 8,244

United States

• 1,363,000 cases, up from1,197,000; 81,663 deaths, up from 70,588

Worldwide

• 3,676,408 cases, up from 2,570,580; 257,416 deaths, up from 178,079

Latest developments

• As officials around the world explore ways to safely loosen pandemic restrictions, some countries that had already reopened are closing down again after sudden spikes in infections. Among the latest: Saudi Arabia, which announced a total lockdown for the end of Ramadan after new cases soared during the holy month.

• Federal health officials testifying at a virtual Senate hearing Tuesday warned of a similar resurgence in the United States, with Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, delivering an especially grim prediction: Americans, he said, will experience “suffering and death that could be avoided” if states and cities reopen too quickly – setting up a potential conflict with President Trump and his deepening view that the country must reopen to spark the moribund economy.

• Eligible taxpayers who are still waiting for a stimulus check have until 12 p.m. today to give the IRS their bank information.

• More than 100,000 small businesses across the country have closed for good since March, according to economists.

• Canada may soon administer questionnaires, use contact tracing apps and conduct temperature and medical history checks on people entering through its border crossings with the United States, authorities said Tuesday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau floated these surveillance possibilities as the two North American countries continue talks on when and how to reopen their border — the longest in the world — to travelers who have been deemed “nonessential.”

What you can do

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.

• Clean surfaces frequently.

• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

How It Spreads

Coronavirus disease spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze. It also spreads when a person touches a surface or object that has the virus on it, then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.

Sources: Washington Post, New York Times, Pa. Department of Health

• • •

* Editor’s Note: Thank you to the readers who pointed out an error in the May 7 edition regarding the “up from” numbers in Blair and Bedford counties. We have revised our method of presenting this information to minimize errors.

There was an error in the May 7 edition tabulation. The correct information for the 5-7-2020 edition of the Herald is presented below. Note that the number of confirmed cases was correct. The incorrect information was the number of cases from the previous week.

** Note: The increase in Huntingdon County is attributed by the Pa. Department of Health mostly to increases in the prison population of SCI Huntingdon.

– CORRECTED –

AS OF 8:30 A.M. WEDNESDAY, MAY 6

Blair County

• 25 cases confirmed, up from 21 cases confirmed, 0 deaths

Bedford County

• 26 cases confirmed, up from 22 cases, 1 death