HARRISBURG-The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 5, that there are 705 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 115,714

Lycoming County has had 351 positive cases to date (323 confirmed and 28 probable), Clinton 118 (102 confirmed and 16 probable) cases, Sullivan ten cases (five confirmed and five probable) and Tioga 36 cases (30 confirmed and six probable).

There are three people hospitalized in Lycoming County today with COVID-19 and none of them are on ventilators.

The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between July 29 and August 4 is 148,934 with 5,625 positive cases. There were 18,814 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 4. These results represent the total number of tests administered.

There are 7,244 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 12 new deaths reported.

“As the state has put in place new mitigation efforts to offset recent case increases, we must renew our commitment to protecting against COVID-19 by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and following the requirements set forth in the orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings and telework,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach. However, the we know the virus has not gone away as we see cases rise, we must work together to stop another surge.”

Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

According to the state, positive antibody tests are include in the probable cases, and make up about 1/4 of all probable cases. Positive antibody cases also make up .71% of all cases.Probable cases are not confirmed cases.

The state DOH said in an email that a person being retested does not count as a new case, “If someone tests positive, and then has later positive tests, they are only counted as that one positive case.”

There are 643 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 1,142,414 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

1% are ages 0-4;

1% are ages 5-12;

3% are ages 13-18;

9% are ages 19-24;

37% are ages 25-49;

Nearly 23% are ages 50-64; and

24% are ages 65 or older.

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

Negative case data only includes negative PCR tests. Negative case data does not include negative antibody tests.

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+. The following regions have seen significant increases among 19 to 24-year-olds in each month from April to present in July:

SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to approximately 19 percent of cases so far in July;

SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to approximately 18 percent of cases so far in July;

NE – 6 percent of cases in April to nearly 17 percent of cases so far in July;

NC – Nearly 8 percent of cases in April to nearly 15 percent of cases so far in July;

SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 14 percent of cases so far in July; and

NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to approximately nearly 14 percent of cases so far in July.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 19,740 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,047 cases among employees, for a total of 23,787 at 867 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of our total deaths, 4,941 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.

Approximately 8,460 of our total cases are amongst health care workers.

The department of health reports the statewide recovery rate today as 76 percent. Individuals who have recovered is determined using a calculation, similar to what is being done by several other states. If a case has not been reported as a death, and it is more than 30 days past the date of their first positive test (or onset of symptoms) then an individual is considered recovered.