Pennsylvania reports 2nd-highest coronavirus total of pandemic

Pennsylvania reports second highest coronavirus total of pandemic

FOX 29's Lauren Dugan has more as Pennsylvania reports 1,857 new COVID-19 cases and nine new deaths.

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania is reporting 1,857 new COVID-19 cases, the second-highest daily total since the beginning of pandemic, days after officials said the commonwealth was seeing a “fall resurgence” of the coronavirus.

The numbers announced Saturday by the state health department are exceeded only by the 1,989 cases reported April 9 and bring the statewide total to almost 181,000. Nine new deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths associated with the virus to 8,466.

On Wednesday, the state’s health secretary pronounced Pennsylvania “at the start of the fall resurgence” of COVID-19 but said there were no plans to reimpose a stay-at-home order or shut down businesses again in response.

Pa. Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine on coronavirus fall resurgence

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine on an expected fall resurgence of coronavirus.

Dr. Rachel Levine said Pennsylvania is more prepared for such an influx than it was in the spring, citing a contact tracing program in place, more personal protective equipment supplies and enough hospital beds available.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

US surpasses 8 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins

COVID-19 cases surging in US as several states report record increases

___

For the latest local news, sports and weather, download the FOX 29 News app.

DOWNLOAD: FOX 29 NEWS APP

Sign up for emails from FOX 29, including our daily Good Day Digest newsletter!