Pennsylvania hit a new milestone Friday as the number of coronavirus cases in the state has now surpassed 1.5 million.
The first COVID-19 cases in the state were reported in March 2020. On Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 5,725 new coronavirus cases. That brings the total number of cases to 1,502,124 since the pandemic’s emergence in Pennsylvania.
Most of those who contract COVID-19 recover and many only received mild, flu-like symptoms, with some not even getting sick. However, a new Penn State Health study also shows as many as half of all those who contract the coronavirus can suffer lingering effects for up to six months.
While the number of new cases Friday is a bit higher than in the past few days, the number of new infections has generally flattened recently. Typically, the state has been reporting about 4,000-5,000 new cases per day over the past few weeks.
Statewide, 2,946 COVID-19 patients are being treated in hospitals, including 687 people in intensive care units, the health department reports. The number of hospitalizations has dipped slightly in the last few days; more than 3,000 were hospitalized with the virus in the past week.
Still, hundreds of people in central Pennsylvania alone are being treated for the coronavirus in hospitals. WellSpan Health reports 288 COVID-19 patients being cared for in its hospitals as of Thursday. Penn State Health reported 109 COVID-19 patients in its hospitals as of Friday, including 5 pediatric patients.
The health department reported 82 new coronavirus deaths Thursday. Since the pandemic began, 30,418 deaths have been tied to COVID-19. About half of those deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.
Looking at the numbers, about 98% of those who have contracted COVID-19 have survived. The virus has typically been most lethal for seniors and those with certain health complications. However, since the emergence of the delta variant, doctors have said they’ve seen younger and healthier patients in hospitals.
Doctors and health care professionals continue to stress the COVID-19 vaccines offer the best protection against serious illness. Pennsylvania hit a more promising milestone earlier this week: 70% of the state’s adults are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. On Friday, the health department said 70.1% are now fully vaccinated.
State officials said they have seen an uptick in breakthrough cases and hospitalizations among those who have been vaccinated. But the health department reports the vast majority of those who have been hospitalized or died due to COVID-19 in 2021 have not been fully vaccinated.
The Wolf administration is hosting a vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lancaster Health Fair in Musser Park, 135 N. Lime St. in Lancaster.
Every county in Pennsylvania is showing high transmission of COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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