The recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Warren County continued on Friday as the latest figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Health added 29 cases to the local tally.

That is higher than the monthly totals of both June (21) and July (18) and the highest single-day total since there were 38 new cases on May 4.

The total number of cases in the county was 2,881 as of Friday, with 2,206 confirmed and 675 probables.

Warren County remains second lowest in the state in the number of cases per capita. There have been 73.5 cases per 1,000 residents. Susquehanna County has a slightly higher population and has seen slightly fewer cases. The rate there is about 71 per 1,000. In more than one-third of the counties in the state, there has been at least 1 case for every 10 people.

Statewide, the department was reporting 1,092,346 cases for a population of about 12.8 million – about 8 percent.

As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was reporting a high rate of community transmission in every county in the state.

The CDC recommends a COVID booster shot for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, but was not recommending one for anyone else as of Friday.

In response to the surge, Warren General Hospital has implemented updates to policies including screening and visitation. Both the City of Warren — temperature screening and mask requirements in the city building — and Gov. Tom Wolf and the Department of Health — masks required in schools – have announced changes effective Tuesday.

When students return to Warren County schools on Tuesday, they will be required to wear masks.