The Herald's Weekly Virus Update

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12 a.m., Sept. 15, that there were 1,151 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 146,214. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

Centre County is reporting an increase of 212 cases and Philadelphia is reporting a two-day increase of 197 cases.

The number of tests administered within the last seven days between Sept. 8 and Sept. 14 is 168,375 with 5,200 positive cases.

There were 22,085 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., Sept. 14. These results represent the total number of tests administered.

There are 7,875 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of six new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard at the website https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

Nearby counties

Cases / Deaths / Rate*

Bedford: 184 / 6 / 12.5

Blair: 514 / 13 / 10.6

Cambria: 469 / 7 / 5.3

Centre: 1,395 / 11 / 6.8

Clearfield: 236 / 1 / 1.3

Fulton: 39 / 2 / 13.8

Huntingdon: 381 / 6 / 13.3

Somerset: 167 / 3 / 4.1

*Rate is number of deaths per 100,000 people

United States

6,536,488 cases

191,781 deaths

Worldwide

29,177,038 cases

926,061 deaths

Pennsylvania

"We know that congregation, especially in college and university settings, yields increased case counts. The mitigation efforts in place now are essential to flattening the curve and saving lives," Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. "Wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and following the requirements set forth in the orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings, and telework will help keep our case counts low. Together, as Pennsylvanians, all of our efforts are designed to support our communities to ensure that cases of COVID-19 remain low."

Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. 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 169 cases who 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 1,695,284 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;

Approximately 4 percent are ages 13-18;

Approximately 12 percent are ages 19-24;

Approximately 36 percent are ages 25-49;

Nearly 22 percent are ages 50-64; and

Approximately 22 percent are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

19-to-24 age group

The department 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+. The following regions saw significant increases among 19 to 24-year-olds in each month from April to date in September:

NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 71 percent of cases so far in September;

NE – 6 percent of cases in April to nearly 40 percent of cases so far in September;

SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 33 percent of cases so far in September;

SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 30 percent of cases so far in September;

NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 21 percent of cases so far in September; and

SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 18 percent of cases so far in September.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 21,993 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,787 cases among employees, for a total of 26,780 at 956 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of our total deaths, 5,300 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 10,159 of our 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.