Governor Tom Wolf released a weekly status update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard comparing the seven-day period of July 10 – July 16 to the previous seven days, July 3 – July 9.
The dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the state’s mitigation efforts. The data available on the dashboard includes week-over-week case differences, incidence rates, test percent-positive, and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency room visits tied to COVID-19.
“By looking at both statewide status and individual county status, and seeing cause for concern with case increases and percent-positivity above 5 percent in multiple counties, we took steps to stop increases before they become critical by implementing new mitigation efforts Wednesday,” Gov. Wolf said. “We continue to see cases rise and one thing we know for certain is that we must continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
“Risky behavior such as going out without a mask and congregating at a bar or in a crowded setting where social distancing isn’t being practiced continues to lead to spikes in cases. We need to recommit to these simple measures to stop the spread and go back to more freedoms.”
As of Thursday, July 16, the state has seen a seven-day case increase of 5,579, the previous seven-day increase was 4,914, alerting that cases are continuing to rise amid a lapse in following required mitigation efforts.
While the statewide percent-positivity is 4.4%, counties with concerning percent-positivity include Beaver (8.2%), Allegheny (7.5%), Washington (6.2%), Indiana (6.1%), Lawrence (6.1%), York (6.1%), Lebanon (6.0%), Philadelphia (5.5%), Dauphin (5.1%) and Westmoreland (5.0%). Each of these counties bear watching as the state continues to monitor all available data.
Today, the Department of Health updated its travel recommendations, originally announced on July 2, to remove Delaware from the list of states recommended for domestic travelers returning from to quarantine for 14 days upon return to Pennsylvania.
Gov. Wolf continues to prioritize the health and safety of Pennsylvanians through the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvanians should continue to take actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, regardless of the status of their county. This includes wearing a mask or face covering anytime they are in public. COVID-19 has been shown to spread easily in the air and contagious carriers can be asymptomatic.