The Herald's Weekly COVID-19 Update

The Herald's weekly COVID-19 pandemic update.

Reported on 3/23/21

#Cases / #Deaths / Rate*

Bedford: 2,883 - 130 - 271.5

Blair: 8869 - 309 - 253.6

Cambria: 8,896 - 402 - 308.8

Centre: 12,707 - 213 - 131.2

Clearfield: 4,935 - 124 - 156.5

Fulton: 665 - 15 - 103.2

Huntingdon: 3,786 - 126 - 279.1

Somerset: 5,088 - 185 - 251.9

*Rate is number of deaths per 100,000 population. It is used to compare county death rates.

Week of March 9, 2021

Area Counties

#Cases - #Deaths - Rate*

Bedford: 2,795 - 129(n/c) - 269.4

Blair: 8,732 - 305 - 250.4

Cambria: 8,784 - 396 - 304.2

Centre: 12,087 - 213 - 131.2

Clearfield: 4,758 - 117 -147.6

Fulton: 657 - 14(n/c) - 96.4

Huntingdon: 3,642 - 125 - 276.9

Somerset: 5,006 - 186 - 283.2

Pennsylvania

846,966 cases to date

Week of March 9:

815,901 total cases

–

24,828 deaths to date

Week of March 9:

24,356 total deaths

United States

29,856,165 cases to date

Week of March 9:

28,979,476 total cases

–

544,004 deaths to date

Week of March 9:

524,893 total deaths

Worldwide

123,818,401 cases to date

Week of March 9:

117,180,054 total cases

–

2,726,847 deaths to date

Week of March 9:

2,602,951 total deaths

State Offers Update on COVID Mitigation Efforts

Pennsylvania on March 22 released a weekly status update detailing the state's mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System dashboard, highlighting a seven-day case increase of 14,182 a statewide percent positivity of 6.5 percent and 25 counties with substantial transmission status.

The dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the state's mitigation efforts. The data available on the Early Warning Monitoring dashboard includes week-over-week case differences, incidence rates, test percent-positivity, and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency room visits tied to COVID-19. This week's update compares the period of March 12–March 18 to the previous seven days, March 12-18.

"The number of new cases has slightly increased, and so has the statewide percent positivity, which is still concerning," Gov. Wolf said. "As more and more Pennsylvanians are getting vaccinated, we must not forget to follow the mitigation measures still in place. As the weather gets warm, please remember to wear a mask, practice social distance and wash your hands frequently as the virus still has a presence in our communities."

As of Thursday, March 18, the state has seen a seven-day case increase of 14,182 cases; the previous seven-day increase was 12,802 cases, indicating 1,380 additional new cases across the state over the past week compared to the previous week.

The statewide percent-positivity increased slightly to 6.5 percent when compared to last week. There are now 21 counties that have a positivity rate lower than 5 percent. There are no counties reporting over 20 percent positivity rate.

"Throughout our COVID-19 response, we have added tools for residents such as our COVID Alert PA app, and dashboards and educational materials online. As Pennsylvania continues to receive greater supplies, we encourage you to educate yourself on the vaccine, which is the best tool to prevent serious illness or death from COVID-19 and to protect you, your loved ones, and your community."

Community Transmission

From Friday, March 19 data, 25 counties were in the substantial level of community transmission, the highest level of transmission.

There are three levels of transmission: low, moderate and substantial. For the week ending March 19, there were five counties in the low level of transmission, 37 counties in the moderate level of transmission, and 25 counties were in the substantial level of transmission.

Low: Cameron, Forest, Fulton, Potter, Sullivan

Moderate: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Chester*, Clarion, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland

Substantial: Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, York