Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – Governor Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam released a weekly update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard, showing an increase of 4,811 cases over seven days, a statewide positivity percentage of 3.8%, and a county with substantial transmission status.

“COVID is tough, but together the Pennsylvanians are tougher. Pennsylvania continues to see positive trends – a low number of cases and an increase in vaccinations every day, ”Governor Wolf said. “Over 50% of Pennsylvanians are fully vaccinated and that number continues to increase.”

As of Thursday, May 27, the state had recorded an increase of 4,811 cases over seven days; the previous seven-day increase was 7,240 cases, indicating 2,429 fewer new cases in the state in the past week compared to the previous week.

The statewide positivity percentage decreased to 3.8% from 4.5% compared to last week. There are now 40 counties that have a positivity rate of less than 5%. No country reports a positivity rate above 20%.

“Together we can defeat COVID-19 in our communities,” Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said. “We encourage Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and tell your friends and family to do the same to add the best protection against the virus to your loved ones and ultimately make your communities a safer place to live, work and play. ”

Community transmission

There are three levels of transmission: low, moderate and heavy.

For the week ending May 28, there were 10 counties in the low transmission level, 56 counties in the moderate transmission level, and one county was in the substantial level of community transmission.

• Low – Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, Fulton, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Warren
• Moderate – Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Carbon, Center, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Liban, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Somerset, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, York
• Substantial – Wyoming

Cases in 5-18 year olds
The Department of Health provides weekly data on the number of COVID-19 cases statewide among ages 5 to 18.

Throughout the pandemic, there have been a total of 132,430 cases of COVID-19 among those aged 5 to 18. Of this total, 1,360 occurred between May 21 and May 27.

Case by demographic group is available on the DOH website.

Business visits
The Department of Health provides weekly data on the number of people who responded to case investigators that they spent time in commercial establishments (restaurants, bars, gyms / fitness centers, salons / barbers) and during mass gatherings 14 days before the onset of COVID -19 symptoms.

The ministry continues to prioritize case investigation to prevent outbreaks. In addition to the need for people to respond to a case investigator’s call, Pennsylvanians should continue to take action to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Of the 8,960 cases reported from May 16 to 22 and excluding residents of Philadelphia County and those who responded to the Digital Case Survey, 24.1% (2,902) of respondents responded to whether they had spent time in a commercial establishment.

Of the 8,960 cases, 22.2 percent (1,988) answered the question whether they attended a mass rally or other large event. Of the 22.2% of cases, 2.8% (246) answered yes if they had attended a mass gathering or other large event 14 days before the onset of symptoms.

Compared to data reported May 25, this week’s data saw an increase for people who reported eating out (50% vs. 32% last week), those who went to a bar (11% vs. 10% last week) and those who went to another business (32 percent vs. 10 percent last week). The data saw a decrease for people who reported going to the gym (9 percent vs. 17 percent last week). The number of those who reported going to a salon / barber remained the same (5% vs. 5% last week).

The number of people who attended a mass rally or other large event fell from 12.3% to 15.4% compared to last week.

In addition to the traditional case investigation, the Department of Health launched the Connect & Protect form as a way to carry out a digital case investigation. During the week of May 16-22, 557 forms were completed and returned. Of the 98.4 percent, or 548 people, who responded if they had spent time in a commercial establishment two days before the onset of symptoms or the positive collection date if asymptomatic, 13.1 percent or 73 people, people answered yes:

• 38 percent (28) of those who answered yes said they had eaten out;
• 8 percent (6) of those who answered yes said they had gone to another business establishment;
• 6 percent (4) of those who said yes said they had been to a bar;
• 3 percent (2) of those who answered yes said they had gone to a gym / fitness center; and
• 1 percent (1) of those who answered yes reported going to a hair salon / barber shop.

The figures above highlight commercial settings and mass gatherings as possible sites of transmission. With less than 10 percent of people asked about the types of businesses they visited or whether they attended a mass rally answering the question, the department once again reminds Pennsylvanians that it is essential that they answer the phone when investigators call and provide complete information and complete the information to these clinical professionals or on the Connect & Protect form provided by the case investigator.

Governor Wolf continues to prioritize the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvanians should continue to take action to prevent the spread of COVID-19, regardless of the county in which they live. COVID-19 has been shown to spread easily in the air and contagious carriers can be asymptomatic. Pennsylvanians are encouraged to wash their hands, socially distance themselves, avoid gatherings, and download COVID Alert PA.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lyndsay Kensinger, Governor’s Office – ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov
Barry Ciccocioppo, Health – ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov –

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