PA COVID-19 deaths pass 49,000

The PA Department of Health reported that statewide deaths from COVID-19 reached 49,034 at the end of 2022, with 2,818,439 confirmed cases, and 613,422 probable cases reported.  More than 8,683,000 Pennsylvanians received the full two dose vaccines, and 4,207,000 Pennsylvanians had received the first booster dose.  Since September 2, 1,884,417 had received the bivalent booster dose.

At present, 1,1747 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in the commonwealth, with 205 in ICU units.  Less than 100 COVID-19 patients are on ventilators.

Of the COVID-19 cases, 1.9 millions have been in females and 1.6 million in males.

Cases by age: 245,049 ages nine and under; 383,289 between the ages of 10-19; 562,285 between the ages of 20-29; 543,300 between the ages of 30-39; 457,736 between the ages of 40-49; 475,524 between the ages of 50-59; 372,320between the ages of 60-69; 220,183 between the ages of 70-79; 122,782 between the ages of 80-89;  and 46,639 ages 90 and above. Forty-eight percent of the deaths from COVID-19 have been in patients aged 80 or older.

NIH launches pilot program in Berks County for virtual COVID-19 care

Reuters (1/5, Satija) reports, “The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a virtual program aimed at making antiviral treatments for COVID-19 available at home for those who test positive.” State and local officials from Berks County, Pennsylvania “will be the first to pilot the program, known as Home Test to Treat, later this month, with up to 8,000 residents expected to participate, the NIH said.”

The Hill (1/5, Choi) reports other communities “will be selected to participate in this program based on need, socioeconomic factors and access to health care, according to the NIH,” which “said it is aiming to offer this service to up to 100,000 people in the U.S. over the next year.”