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COVID-19 positives top 7,000 in state; 1st case in Forest County

Total COVID-19 cases topped 7,000 on Thursday.

PA Health Department data indicates an additional 1,211 cases bringing the total in the state to 7,016 in 62 of the state’s 67 counties. Forest County joined the list on Thursday with one reported positive case.

The death toll rose to 90, all adults.

While we live in a county with a very-low case count now, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine cautioned against assuming that the virus isn’t here.

“There is community spread of COVID-19,” Levine said. “The number of true cases is far above our case count.

“We would expect increases throughout Pennsylvania.”

She spoke on Thursday specifically to families.

“I know that staying home… is not easy” and is “particularly hard for families with children who are completely out of their normal routines this time of year.

“Our kids take their lead from the adults in their life, particularly in what you do, not necessarily what you always say.”

She encouraged keeping a routine and acquiring the latest news from a trusted source but not being overwhelmed with constant media.

Taking questions, Levine said that the various modeling expects a surge in cases “in the next weeks or month.”

She was also asked whether the Department of Health could report testing at the county level and said they aren’t breaking those numbers down that way because they “haven’t been finding it useful from a public health perspective.”

“All 67 counties in Pennsylvania are under a Stay-at-Home Order through April 30,” according to the Department of Health website. “Stay home as much as possible. Try to get groceries once per week instead of daily. Freedom of travel remains, but please refrain from non-essential travel. Essential travel includes things like commuting to an essential job, picking up supplies like groceries and medicine, and checking on family and pets in other households. Do not host or attend gatherings.”

Philadelphia (1,852) and 13 fatalities, Montgomery (735) and nine fatalities, Lehigh (479) and five fatalities, Delaware (470) and eight fatalities, Allegheny (419) and two fatalities, Luzerne (384) and five fatalities, Northampton (378) and nine fatalities, Bucks (370) and six fatalities, Monroe (321) and 10 fatalities, Chester (210) and two fatalities, Lancaster (203) and four fatalities, Berks (168) and one fatality, Lackawanna (108) and three fatalities, York (102) and one fatality, Westmoreland (84), Butler (69) and two fatalities, Pike (68) and one fatality, Dauphin (67) and one fatality, Beaver (55) and two fatalities, Schuylkill (54), Lebanon (45), Cumberland (41) and one fatality, Washington (38), Centre (28), Carbon (26) and one fatality, Franklin (23), Adams (18), Wayne (17), Lawrence (16) and two fatalities, Erie (16), Fayette (15) and one fatality, Montour (15), Columbia, Greene (11), Mercer (9), Bradford, Northumberland (8), Armstrong, Lycoming (7), Indiana (6), Crawford (5), Blair, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield (4), Snyder (3) and one fatality, Bedford, Perry, Somerset, Susquehanna, Venango (3), Huntingdon, Juniata, Potter, Tioga, Union (2) and Warren, Cameron, Forest, McKean, Mifflin, Wyoming (1).

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