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Area coronavirus cases reach record high again

Bedford positivity rate 3 times the concern threshold

On Friday, for the second day in a row and the fifth day in two weeks, Pennsylvania set a record for new coronavirus cases, with 3,384, according to daily figures supplied by the state Department of Health.

Friday’s record is 484 higher than Thursday’s. The new cases bring the state’s total for the pandemic to 223,950.

The recent daily records eclipse the spring high of 1,989, as initially reported on April 9.

On Friday, the DoH also reported 38 new deaths, bringing the state’s pandemic total to 8,975.

The number of daily deaths has been rising, but not nearly as steeply as in the spring.

The daily average for the past week is 27 deaths.

The average for the week preceding the daily high in the spring was 103 deaths.

The state is more capable now of mitigating the harm of COVID-19 than in the spring, because of better clinical practices, a couple of fairly effective medications and better protections for the vulnerable, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said this week.

The state has recorded 2,503 more cases in the past week than in the previous week, according to the department’s Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard, which is updated on Fridays.

The state’s incidence rate is 124 cases per 100,000 people, well over twice the typical threshold of concern, 50.

The positivity rate for testing is 6.9%, nearly 2% higher than the typical threshold of concern, which is 5%.

The positivity rates and the incidence rates for all six regional counties are above the concern levels for both of those metrics.

Bedford and Huntingdon counties’ numbers may be the most problematic.

Bedford’s positivity rate is 17.5%, 3.5 times the concern threshold.

Its incidence rate for the past week is 238, 4.75 times the concern threshold.

Huntingdon’s positivity rate is 9.5%, a little less than twice the level of concern.

Its incidence rate for the past week is 332, more than 6.5 times the level of concern.

Blair County’s positivity rate is 8%, with an incidence rate for the past week of 266.

Cambria County’s positivity rate is 5.5%, with an incidence rate of 148.

Centre’s positivity rate is 5.2%, with an incidence rate of 145.

Clearfield’s positivity rate is 5.6%, with an incidence rate of 80.

The six counties together set a pandemic record for new daily cases on Thursday with 273.

Several readers wondered this week whether recent rallies held in central Pennsylvania by the Trump campaign, where many attendees didn’t wear masks, have contributed to the rise in cases.

Asked whether that is true, UPMC Altoona spokeswoman Danielle Sampsell wrote in an email: “The recent increase in COVID+ cases in our region have been attributed primarily to community spread.”

To curtail the ongoing outbreak, people should wear masks, keep social distance, avoid large gatherings, stay home when sick and wash their hands often, according to DoH and UPMC officials.

Following that advice is especially important given that we are in flu season, given that cold weather means more time indoors and given that we’re entering the holiday season, public health officials have said.

“Consider virtual gatherings,” said Dr. David Burwell, chief quality officer for UPMCs Altoona, Bedford, Somerset and Western Maryland locations, speaking of getting together with people outside one’s household during those holidays. “It’s not as exciting, but it’s safer.”

If there are gatherings involving others, it will be best to keep them “minimal,” Burwell said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.

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