Your daily coronavirus update: Pennsylvania deaths associated with coronavirus reach 2,418

In the midstate, state Health Department figures show 328 people have died from COVID-19.

• The Associated Press
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  The Associated Press (AP) is a U.S.-based not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City.

(Harrisburg) — State health officials are announcing 64 new deaths associated with the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, bringing the total in the commonwealth to 2,418.

Officials also announced Saturday that the number of positive cases had topped 48,300.

Most hospitalizations and deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. Of the total deaths, 1,614 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.

The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. There is no data on how many people have recovered.

“As we see the number of new COVID-19 cases continuously change across the state that does not mean we can stop practicing social distancing,” Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families and our community. If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but others.”

A total of 8,501 people in central Pennsylvania have tested positive for the virus since the first cases were reported in the region on March 13. In the region, 328 people have died from COVID-19.

Today’s update includes six newly reported deaths in Lancaster County, one in Berks County, one in Franklin County, one in Lebanon County, and one in Schuylkill County.

• Adams: 141 cases, including 4 deaths
• Berks: 2810 cases, including 118 deaths
• Columbia: 290 cases, including 13 deaths
• Cumberland: 365 cases, including 17 deaths
• Dauphin: 617 cases, including 25 deaths
• Franklin: 325 cases, including 8 deaths
• Juniata: 84 cases, including 1 death
• Lancaster: 1904 cases, including 112 deaths
• Lebanon: 710 cases, including 10 deaths
• Mifflin: 38 cases
• Northumberland: 98 cases
• Perry: 33 cases, including 1 death
• Schuylkill: 384 cases, including 7 deaths
• Snyder: 33 cases, including 1 death
• Union: 38 cases
• York: 664 cases, including 11 deaths

For most people, it causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a couple of weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is:

• Nearly 1% are aged 0-4;
• Nearly 1% are aged 5-12;
• 1% are aged 13-18;
• Nearly 6% are aged 19-24;
• Nearly 38% are aged 25-49;
• Nearly 27% are aged 50-64; and
• Nearly 27% are aged 65 or older

State park, forests reopening plans

State officials have announced plans to reopen some state park and forest facilities in Pennsylvania.

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said Saturday that public golf courses at Caledonia and Evansburg state parks and Michaux State Forest were authorized to reopen as of Friday.

All nine marinas in state parks will be open to the public next Friday or on their usual opening date. At least one restroom in day use areas and in marinas at state parks and forests statewide will be open to the public as of next Friday.

On Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf lifted some pandemic restrictions on 24 largely rural counties in the northwest and north-central regions of Pennsylvania, moving them from red to yellow in the state’s color-coded reopening plan. The most heavily populated areas, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, will remain locked down, Wolf said.

In counties in the yellow phase, state park and forest facilities including offices, campgrounds, and the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle will be open to the public on May 15, state officials said. Cabins in those areas won’t be open until June and campgrounds and cabins in all other state parks will remain closed.