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WILKES-BARRE — The are now 1,741 conformed cases of COVID-19 in Luzerne County and 34 people have died, according to the latest report issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
The report showed 29 new cases in Luzerne County. Lackawanna County now has 636 confirmed cases and 41 deaths, while Monroe County has 963 total cases and 38 deaths.
The Department of Health confirmed that there were 1,215 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 32,284. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
The department also announced that electronic and probable-cause deaths are now being reported, causing a reporting increase of 276 new deaths among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 1,112.
“We have been working to reconcile our data with information from several different sources, including our NEDSS reporting system and our county and municipal health departments,” said Dr. Rachel Levine. “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.”
Dr. 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.
All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.
“COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Pennsylvania, so now is not the time to become complacent,” Levine said. “We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families, our community. If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and front line responders.”
There are 126,570 patients who have tested negative to date.
Arena testing site opens Monday
A COVID-19 testing site at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township will open Monday.
The site will provide “much-needed testing” for symptomatic first responders, health care workers and residents 65 or older throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
• From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, the site will be open for 100 first responders and health care workers from Northeastern Pennsylvanian who are having COVID-19 symptoms to get tested.
• Beginning Tuesday, April 21, the site will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily to test up to 200 Northeastern Pa. residents over 65, first responders and health care workers each day.
People will be required to stay in their cars to get tested and drive directly back onto the highway to return home.
The drive-thru testing site will be held in the parking lot of the Mohegan Sun Pocono Arena and pre-registration is required.
Registration is required one day in advance and can be found on the Department of Health’s website — health.pa.gov. No on-site registration is available.
Patients do not need a doctor’s prescription to be tested. Dr. Levine has signed a standing order for anyone who registers to be tested at the site.
For those who are registered, the site can be accessed by taking Exit 168 — Highland Park Boulevard — from Interstate 81 (northbound or southbound) and following the signs and directions of local officials.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
