There were five new cases of COVID-19 reported for Warren County on Friday and no deaths.

The total number of cases was up to 1,981 as of Friday, with 1,628 of those confirmed and 353 probable, according to statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Over the last seven days, there has been an average of about 8.7 new cases per day. For the month, the average has been about 17.5. There were almost 40 new cases per day in December.

There have only been eight days this month in which a new death was not announced in the county. There were 26 deaths at the end of December, and there have been 62 added to that number since. Not all of those deaths took place this month nor in Warren County.

The department attributes COVID deaths to the place of residence of the person, rather than the place of death. And, the department said confirming, attributing, and reporting deaths often takes about a week.

There were seven COVID patients at Warren General Hospital — an increase of one compared to Thursday. None of those were on ventilators nor in intensive care.

During a Friday press conference to discuss vaccine circumstances in Northwestern and Southwestern Pennsylvania, Department of Health Communications Director April Hutcheson said, “we know there isn’t enough vaccine coming into Pennsylvania.”

She said there have been requests for about 770,000 first doses and she expects to receive 160,000 first doses next week. Those numbers are independent of follow-up doses. “We’re still getting people second doses,” Hutcheson said.

The department is trying to make sure health care workers who do not work in or for hospitals get their vaccines.

“If you are a non-affiliated health care provider and haven’t gotten vaccinated, call the hospital,” Hutcheson said. “We don’t want to leave anybody behind.”

One of the questions posed to Hutcheson related to “jumping the line” and people in later phases receiving vaccines while still in Phase 1A. “Our providers have signed an agreement saying they are going to adhere to our vaccination strategy,” she said.

Those who are having trouble signing up online may call (877) PA-HEALTH.

Experience Inc. — the Area Agency on Aging — is helping locally.

There are other agencies participating, as well. Hutcheson said the current effort represents the largest mass-vaccination in the history of the state. “It isn’t going to be one agency that facilitates this effort.”