September 1 COVID-19 State Data Update

According to the Department of Health, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reported for the 7-day test period from August 23-29 was roughly 2.7 percent, based on there having been 4,405 positive cases and 160,682 administered cases during that time frame.  A week ago, the department on Sunday reported for the period of Aug. 16 through Aug. 22, there were 4,889 positive cases and 157,396 administered tests, for a positivity rate of 3.1 percent.

As illustrated by those figures, the number of positive COVID-19 cases likewise dropped, week-over-week, by 484 cases.

The department now indicates that 82 percent of all virus cases reported since early March have now recovered from the virus.  That means roughly 109,473 cases of the 133,504 probable and confirmed cases have recovered, leaving approximately 16,358 active cases of the virus. A week earlier, there appeared to be about 18,232 active cases.

On the Department’s COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard (for the period of Aug. 21 through Aug. 27), nine out of 67 counties had a 7-day test positivity rate of 5 percent or higher, but three of those counties had lower positivity rates than during theprevious week.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed that, as of 12:00 a.m., September 1, that there are 770 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 134,795.

The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 25 and August 31 is 163,092 with 4,551 positive cases. There were 22,681 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 31. These results represent the total number of tests administered.

There are 7,691 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 18 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

“The mitigation efforts in place now are essential as we protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, including our children as they start school and our loved ones in long-term care facilities,” 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. We know that the cases in schools and in facilities such as nursing homes are often a reflection of the spread of the virus in the local community. Together, as Pennsylvanians, we each have a part to play in working 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 August 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 15 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 1,539,969 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

  • Approximately 1% are ages 0-4;
  • Nearly 2% are ages 5-12;
  • Nearly 4% are ages 13-18;
  • Approximately 10% are ages 19-24;
  • Nearly 38% are ages 25-49;
  • Approximately 22% are ages 50-64; and
  • Approximately 23% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 25-49, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

The department said it 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 in July 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 August 31:

  • SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 19 percent of cases in August;
  • NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 25 percent of cases in August;
  • NE – 6 percent of cases in April to approximately 20 percent of cases in August;
  • SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to approximately 13 percent of cases in August;
  • SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 14 percent of cases in August; and
  • NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to 11 percent of cases in August.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 21,074 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,510 cases among employees, for a total of 25,584 at 930 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of our total deaths, 5,192 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 9,665 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.