While the COVID-19 case count in this region stayed steady with Friday’s reporting from the state health department, the statewide weekly data showed an increase of 5,912 cases.
“The mitigation efforts we took last week were a proactive step to get in front of the rise of cases that we are continuing to see,” Gov. Tom Wolf said on Friday.
The state Department of Health has a COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard that compares data over seven-day periods. The most recent period’s results — 5,912 new positives — were higher than the prior period’s at 5,579.
“We know that it will take a period of time for the mitigation efforts to be reflected in the data,” Wolf said. “One thing we know for certain is that we must continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.”
For the daily results, the health department reported that as of Friday, there were 1,213 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 105,571.
Allegheny County reported an increase of 198 cases, and Philadelphia County reported an increase of 227 cases. Local counties did not see a change. Elk County has had 38 cases; McKean, 26; Potter, 20; and Cameron, 5.
There have been 7,101 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 22 new deaths reported. Locally, two deaths have been noted in Elk County and one in McKean.
According to the state Department of Health, the number of tests administered between July 17 and July 23 is 151,858 with 5,912 positive cases. There were 25,602 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., July 23. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
In McKean County, the testing site at Walmart in Foster Township has closed. Nate Wardle, spokesman for the health department, said testing sites at several Walmart locations had closed.
“There are currently two testing sites in McKean County, both run by Buchanan Health Pharmacy,” Wardle said. The sites are in Eldred and Smethport.
Also on Friday, the health department added two more states to its travel recommendations, Missouri and Wyoming. The health department is asking anyone who has traveled to the states on the list to self quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Pennsylvania. The states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Wolf reiterated, “We need to recommit to the simple measures of mask-wearing and social distancing to stop the spread and go back to more freedoms.”
