DOH: 12 more positive cases of COVID-19 reported in Cumberland County; more cases rise across Midstate

Apr. 1--The Midstate saw 67 new positive cases of COVID-19 Monday, 12 of them in Cumberland County, according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Health.

As of midnight Tuesday morning, Cumberland County's COVID-19 cases rose from 24 to 36, and other nearby counties also saw jumps in their numbers.

The hardest-hit county in the region, Lancaster County, saw its cases rise from 97 to 123 with one additional death, only a day after it saw 30 new positive cases from Sunday to Monday.

Dauphin County's cases rose from 36 to 45, while York County's cases rose from 54 to 66, another jump of more than 10 cases in two days for York.

There was also one death reported in Dauphin County Monday. Locally, Cumberland County has reported one death, and there have been three deaths in Lancaster County, with one new death having been reported.

Other county numbers include 19 in Franklin County (an increase of seven in one day), nine in Adams County (an increase of one case), and Perry County remains at one positive.

Gov. Tom Wolf added seven more counties to his stay-at-home order, including Franklin and Lebanon counties. Wolf also told Somerset, Lawrence, Cameron, Crawford and Forest counties to stay home at least through April 30, bringing to 33 the number of counties under the governor's order.

Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster and York are already under the order.

Nearly 11 million Pennsylvania residents, or 85% of the state's population, have now been instructed to remain in their homes, with exceptions that include working at a business that's still open, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, visiting a doctor, caring for a relative or heading outside to exercise.

Overall, the department reported Tuesday that there are 756 new positive cases in the state, bringing the total to 4,843. The department also reported 14 new deaths among the positives, bringing that total to 63.

Philadelphia remains the hardest-hit region in the state, with 308 of the new positives being in that region alone, along with six more deaths. Philadelphia County itself has 1,197 of the state's total positive cases, which is an increase of 190 in one day.

Of the total number of cases in the state, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said 514 have required treatment in an intensive care unit, 94 of which required the use of a ventilator.

Levine also said 5% of all positive cases in the state are in health care workers, while the nursing home population makes up less than 1% of all cases.

Though the numbers reported Tuesday were the largest increase yet, Levine said they are hopeful about the fact that the percentage rise of cases is lowering. However, she said it's still too early to predict what that means or when positive cases of COVID-19 may peak in the state.

One day after President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in Pennsylvania, the state's emergency management agency said it would begin contacting potential applicants, which include state, county and municipal governments and eligible nonprofits.

Trump's order allows for federal assistance to supplement state and local pandemic recovery efforts.

Email Naomi Creason at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @SentinelCreason

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