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The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 16,967 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, covering a two-day period due to the holidays.
Across Pennsylvania, 657,292 people have contracted COVID-19 since the pandemic began nearly a year ago.
Statewide, a total of 16,239 deaths have been linked to the virus, including 261 reported Thursday and Friday, the health department said.
So far, nearly a third of all deaths from COVID-19 in the state have occurred in December alone.
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The number of hospitalizations has also increased dramatically in recent weeks. According to the health department, 5,624 patients with COVID-19 are hospitalized. Of these, 1,172 are in intensive care units.
A temporary state shutdown on indoor restaurants, youth sports, indoor gyms and casinos ends Monday.
Tests have increased since the spring, as has the percentage of those tests that come back positive. Of those who took a test in the seven days ending Dec.31, 15% were positive. Anything above 5% shows significant community spread of COVID-19.
- More: Graphics, data on the coronavirus in Pa.
Most of the hospital patients, and most of those who have died, are 65 or older, the state said. Nursing homes have battled the spread of the virus.
Can’t see the graph? Click here.
The health department reports that 67% of those who contracted the coronavirus have recovered. The state considers patients to have recovered when they are 30 days past the point of infection or the onset of symptoms. About 3.3 million people have tested negative.
Vaccinations against the coronavirus have started, with health workers receiving the first vaccines.
The state health department has deployed a dashboard that documents the number of COVID-19 vaccines administered.
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