HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP / KDKA) – The coronavirus numbers in Pennsylvania appear to be leveling off, and January looks “much more hopeful” as people follow mitigation measures over the holidays, said Secretary of State for Health Dr. Rachel Levine Monday.
“Right now we’re definitely seeing a plateau, maybe even a slight decrease in our numbers,” said Dr. Levine, noting that it is “always” lower on Sundays and Mondays.
The positivity rate for the week of December 11-17 fell to 15.8% from 16.2% the week before.
“If everyone is doing the right thing, if everyone stays united and continues with these mitigating measures, pretty much stays at home during the holidays, things look a lot more hopeful for January,” said Dr. Levine. “When people travel, when they have meetings large and small, we will be more challenged.”
Government Tom Wolf has imposed a series of shutdowns through January 4, including youth sports and other extracurricular activities, gyms, theaters and casinos, and indoor dining in restaurants amid rising infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths. The closing orders have spawned lawsuits and a growing list of companies vowing to defy the orders and remain open.
The daily number of positive cases has declined since Wolf imposed the restrictions on December 12, although hospital admissions have continued to rise.
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Meanwhile, more than 17,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to health professionals in Pennsylvania hospitals, Dr. Levine said, as hospitals remain stressed by the loads of coronavirus patients and a second Moderna vaccine is expected to arrive this week.
Dr. Levine said 87 hospitals have received doses of Pfizer’s first vaccine so far, with another 30,000 doses due to arrive this week. In addition, hospitals in the state are scheduled to receive 198,000 doses of the newly approved Moderna vaccine this week, Levine said.
As part of a federal partnership, CVS and Walgreen’s will begin on-site vaccination services next week for residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities statewide, Levine said. Those facilities will receive the Pfizer vaccine, she said.
In the meantime, Levine said even people who receive the vaccine should continue to monitor efforts to stop the spread of the virus, including wearing a mask and social distance protocols.
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