Pennsylvania has surpassed a grim milestone — more than 25,000 deaths related to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to the state Health Department.
Over the past 48 hours, the state added 29 new fatalities, bringing the total number of people who have died to 25,015.
The number of new cases over the weekend is not as high as previously reported. Health officials say data released Saturday on the state’s COVID Alert PA mobile app was posted in error, showing a case increase of more than 3,000 higher than the true number.
The correct case count for Saturday was 4,387, bringing the total number of new cases over Saturday, Sunday and Monday to 10,101.
Since the pandemic began, Pennsylvania has recorded 1,015,268 cases of COVID-19, with 864,804 confirmed through PCR testing. According to the state’s OpenDataPA website, there are 1,916 people currently hospitalized with the virus, with 389 of that total in intensive care units and 209 on ventilators.
The 14-day moving average of hospitalizations per day is about 4,500 lower than it was at the state’s peak on Dec. 25, though health officials say the average has started to increase.
Statewide percent positivity for the week of March 19-25 is 7.6%.
As for vaccines, nearly 3.25 million people have received at least one dose in the state, according to the Health Department. About 1.57 million are partially vaccinated, while 1.75 million are fully vaccinated. The current seven-day moving average for vaccinations is more than 83,000 administered per day.
As of Monday morning, Pennsylvania ranks 12th among the 50 states for first doses administered, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Allegheny County, 592 new COVID-19 cases and one death were reported over the past 48 hours.
Of the newly reported cases, county officials say that 450 are confirmed while 142 are probable. The dates of the positive tests range from March 22-28.
According to the Allegheny County Health Department, the new cases range in age from 91 years old to 1 month, with a median age of 36. There was a near-even split of cases among males and females, with 298 cases among males and 294 cases among females.
The newly reported death is not associated with a long-term-care facility, though the person was in their 70s.
To date, there has been a total of 84,850 positive cases and 5,741 hospitalizations in the county since the start of the pandemic.
The county death toll now stands at 1,760.
First Published: March 29, 2021, 4:06 p.m.
