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WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed 12 new cases of COVID-19 in Luzerne County and no new deaths.
That brings Luzerne County’s total cases to 3,633; the death count remains at 185.
Neighboring Lackawanna County has 1,967 cases and 212 deaths; Monroe County has 1,670 cases and 125 deaths.
The Department of Health confirmed that there are 735 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 125,579 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
Philadelphia reported 208 cases – a two-day total for Aug. 17 and Aug. 18.
The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between Aug. 11 and Aug. 17 is 162,293 with 5,992 positive cases. There were 18,926 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., Aug. 17. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
There are 7,499 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 31 new deaths reported.
Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
There are 644 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases.
There are 1,353,987 patients who have tested negative to date.
Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.
The department is seeing significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases among younger age groups, particularly 19 to 24-year-olds. An alert was sent to healthcare providers about the changing COVID-19 case demographics, as there are more cases in younger age groups than in those 50-64 and 65-plus.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 20,444 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,261 cases among employees, for a total of 24,705 at 899 distinct facilities in 61 counties.
Out of our total deaths, 5,064 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.
Approximately 8,997 of our total cases are among health care workers.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.