Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 1,102 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 44,366

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 29, that there are 1,102 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 44,366. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

As a result of our continued work to reconcile data from various sources, the state is reporting an increase of 479 deaths today bringing the statewide total to 2,195 deaths in Pennsylvania. These deaths have occurred over the last two weeks. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

Locally in Beaver County we are up 4 cases since yesterday to 392 cases. 2007 people have tested negative and the county is up 6 deaths to 65.

In the 3 Nursing homes in the county that are reporting positive cases there is 251 positive cases. There are 4  increases since yesterday 20 employees have tested positive and the deaths have increased by 6 to 58

“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,” Sec. of Health 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. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”

There are 170,518 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Nearly 1% are aged 0-4;
• Nearly 1% are aged 5-12;
• 1% are aged 13-18;
• Nearly 6% are aged 19-24;
• 38% are aged 25-49;
• 27% are aged 50-64; and
• 26% are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date. More data is available here.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 7,698 resident cases of COVID-19, and 975 cases among employees, for a total of 8,673 at 461 distinct facilities in 42 counties. Out of our total deaths, 1,428 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

All non-life-sustaining businesses are ordered to be closed and schools are closed statewide through the remainder of the academic year. Currently the entire state is under a stay-at-home order.

THOUSANDS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS IN BEAVER COUNTY

ENJOYING FREE “THANK YOU MEALS” FROM McDONALD’S RESTAURANTS

Frontline Heroes Can Enjoy Free Meals At Local McDonald’s Restaurants

 

BEAVER, PA…April 28, 2020 — In appreciation for the healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics who are committed to public health and safety, McDonald’s is offering free Thank You Meals* through Tuesday, May 5 to demonstrate appreciation for their selfless service.

“We’ve served thousands of Thank You Meals since the program began last week,” said local McDonald’s Owner/Operator Meghan Sweeney.  “As local business owners, my family and I know that this community needs McDonald’s now more than ever and we’re committed to serving them.  We’re proud to support our neighbors who are on the frontlines as first responders and healthcare workers with Thank You Meals.”

While the majority of America is staying home, McDonald’s has remained open, with hardworking restaurant workers serving hot meals to communities who need quick and affordable options, especially healthcare workers and first responders on the frontlines.  The brand is grateful for the ongoing dedication and commitment of McDonald’s employees who enable McDonald’s to stay open to serve our communities during these challenging times.

Each Thank You Meal will be available at no charge via drive thru or carry out at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide through May 5. The Thank You Meal, available during breakfast, lunch or dinner, will feature a choice of sandwiches, drinks, and a side order of a Hash Brown or small order of World Famous Fries, along with a note of appreciation. It will be served in McDonald’s iconic Happy Meal box, in the hopes of bringing a smile along with delicious food.

Day or night, frontline heroes can simply show a work badge or visit in uniform to receive one of the Thank You Meal options:

Breakfast

• A choice of an Egg McMuffin^®, Chicken McGriddles^® or a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit. All options come with any size soft drink, tea or hot coffee and a Hash Brown.

 Lunch and Dinner

• A choice of a Double Cheeseburger, 6-Piece Chicken McNuggets^® or a Filet-O-Fish^®. All options come with any size soft drink, tea or hot coffee and small fries.

During past times of national crisis, McDonald’s has helped and served communities in need, from donating funds to disaster relief efforts to providing food for those impacted by natural disasters. McDonald’s commitment to feeding the nation’s healthcare workers and first responders throughout the current pandemic is a continuation of that dedication.

Serving brave healthcare workers and first responders would not be possible without McDonald’s dedicated and unwavering restaurant employees, who are also doing their part to help during this time. McDonald’s employees are the heart of the business, and their health and safety has been, and will continue to be, McDonald’s top priority. McDonald’s has implemented almost 50 new safety measures to ensure the well-being of its employees, and continuing to explore additional safety steps in accordance with guidance issued by local and national health authorities including the CDC.

Nearly all McDonald’s U.S. restaurants remain open and are offering convenient and contactless ways for customers to enjoy McDonald’s favorites through drive thru, carry out, McDelivery, and mobile order & pay with our app.

Groups sow doubt about COVID vaccine before one even exists
By DAVID KLEPPER and BEATRICE DUPUY Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Public health experts say a vaccine may be the best chance of stopping the coronavirus. Yet even though it could be months or years before a working vaccine is ready, groups that have spread misinformation about immunizations in the past are raising doubts. Some claim vaccine trials will be dangerously rushed; others say better treatments are being ignored to enrich vaccine makers. Then there are more far-reaching claims that Microsoft founder Bill Gates plans to use a vaccine to inject microchips into people or reduce the world’s population. Experts say such claims could prove lethal if they undermine support for vaccines.

Pennsylvania preps reopening without mass testing capacity
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration plans to announce Friday which parts of Pennsylvania can begin seeing a step-by-step relaxation of coronavirus-related shutdown directives. Still, Wolf and administration officials weren’t projecting Tuesday when the state will have widespread mass-testing capacity. Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said the administration will announce which regions or counties can see some relief from shutdown orders by moving from a “red” designation to a “yellow” designation. Those changes would take effect the following Friday, May 8, a previously announced date. Meanwhile, Levine says one of the state’s hardest-hit areas, southeastern Pennsylvania, appears to be past its peak.

North Carolina governor OKs NASCAR to race at Charlotte
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The governor of North Carolina says NASCAR can hold the Coca-Cola 600 without fans at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the end of May if health conditions do not deteriorate in the state. Gov. Roy Cooper says he and state public health officials have had discussions with NASCAR and the speedway. Cooper says he believes the race can go forward on Memorial Day weekend for the 60th consecutive year. NASCAR, like other sports, has been shutdown for weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Police: Pennsylvania troopers wound Ohio man with knife
BEDFORD, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say state police in western Pennsylvania shot and wounded an Ohio man they accused of having “brandished a knife” after they answered a domestic call. Police say two troopers responded to a Bedford apartment complex shortly before 5 p.m. Monday but 45-year-old James Best of Canal Fulton, Ohio “brandished a knife and failed to obey commands.” Police said both troopers fired and Best was taken for “further medical treatment.” Court documents indicate Best faces charged including attempted homicide and attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer. Court documents don’t list a defense attorney.

Blood test helped detect cancer before symptoms, study finds
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE AP Chief Medical Writer
For the first time, a blood test has been shown to help detect many types of cancer in a study of thousands of women with no symptoms of the disease. The test is still experimental and even its fans say it needs to be improved. Yet the results released on Tuesday show what benefits and drawbacks might come from using these gene-based tests, called liquid biopsies, in routine care. In the study published in Science, the test doubled the number of cancers detected when used along with standard screening tools like mammograms.

Trump to sign order keeping meat processing plants open
By JILL COLVIN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday meant to stave off a shortage of chicken, pork and other meat on American supermarket shelves because of the coronavirus. The order will use the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as a critical industry to ensure that production plants stay open. The order comes after industry leaders warned that consumers could see meat shortages in a matter of days after workers at major facilities tested positive for the virus. A senior White House official outlined the order on condition of anonymity to discuss it before its release.