The Daily Item
The number of newly reported COVID-19 infections statewide increased slightly over the last week according to Wednesday’s latest data from the state Department of Health. All four Valley counties registered more new cases this week than the preceding week, state data shows.
State Health officials registered 14,606 new cases in the last week, the largest increase since the first week in November. Locally, there were 243 cases, 47 more than a week ago.
There were 136 new deaths linked to COVID-19 statewide, the 19th consecutive week with more than 100. There were no deaths in the Valley tied to the coronavirus.
Montour County registered 25 new cases, and Northumberland County logged 120 infections, the third week in a row with more than 100. Snyder County had 46 cases, while Union County registered 52 new cases.
According to data being tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Johns Hopkins University, the number of new cases nationally is level over the last two weeks, while COVID-related deaths are down 12 percent. Hospitalizations were up 4 percent over the same time period.
HospitalizationsAs of noon Wednesday, there were 1,317 hospitalizations statewide, down a dozen from last week. There were 17 patients statewide being treated in the ICU — up 5 — and 775 on ventilators, up 11.
There were 44 COVID patients in Valley hospitals, level with last week’s report. This week’s total includes 30 at Geisinger in Danville, three at Geisinger Shamokin and 11 at Evangelical Community Hospital.
Geisinger Shamokin had two patients in the ICU and one on a ventilator. No Evangelical patients were in the ICU or on ventilators, according to the state report. Geisinger’s main Danville campus has four in the ICU and one patient on a ventilator.
State facilities, prisons
Both federal prisons have been dropped back down to Level 1 COVID restrictions, the lowest of the Department of Corrections’ three levels. There are 4 active inmate cases at the low-security unit in Allenwood this week. There are no cases at Lewisburg.
Nationwide, eight facilities were at Level 3, the highest level of restrictions, 53 were at Level 2 and 38 were at Level 1. Institution operational levels (Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3) are based on the facilities’ COVID-19 medical isolation rate, combined percentage of staff and inmate completed vaccinations series and their respective county transmission rates.
At the State Correctional Institution in Coal Township, there are no active staff or inmate cases, according to the state Department of Corrections. There were 23 active inmate cases and 31 active staff cases in state prisons statewide.
There was at least one active case among those receiving services at the Selinsgrove Center, along with nine staff cases, level with last week’s report. The state Department of Human Services does not release full data unless five or more people are positive.
There were no cases at the Danville State Hospital or juvenile detention facilities in Danville.
