Pa.’s death total rises to 1,112

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Pennsylvania reported 276 new coronavirus-related deaths Sunday, but state Department of Health officials say the increase is due to data catching up with the reporting system.

On Saturday, there were 80 deaths, which was an increase over last week’s trend toward lower numbers. However, Sunday’s figure of 276 was the highest during this crisis by 200. There have now been 1,112 deaths in Pennsylvania related to coronavirus.

“We have been working to reconcile our data with information from several different sources, including our (National Electronic Disease Surveillance System) reporting system and our county and municipal health departments,” DOH Director Dr. Rachel Levine said Sunday. “This is the cause of the increase in deaths we are reporting today. 

“This work takes time and so the increase in deaths today reflects the culmination of that effort, which will continue moving forward. The majority of these deaths did not occur overnight.”

Levine stressed that mitigation efforts such as social distancing are working and that the goal of the department is to continue to provide as much data as possible in a timely manner.

There were three days last week in which the new cases of coronavirus were in the lower 1,000s. On Friday, the figures climbed again to 1,706 and Saturday there were 1,628 new cases. But  the figure went down again to 1,215 Sunday. There were a total of 2,843 new cases added over the weekend.

There have now been a total of 32,284 positive coronavirus tests in the state.

Allegheny County has 1,035 cases, an increase of 88 patients, and seven new deaths, bringing that total to 50.

Fayette County saw no increases over the weekend, leaving its totals at 66 cases and three deaths.

Washington County added seven new cases for a total of 82 patients, and the county reported its second death over the weekend.

Westmoreland County has 35 new cases for a total 284 and had three new deaths since Friday for a total of 16.