Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 948 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 33,232

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 20, that there are 948 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 33,232. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

The department is continuing to work to increase the types of cases that are being added to our death case counts. Today, 92 new deaths are reported among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 1,204. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here. All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.

“As we start to see the number of new COVID-19 cases decrease 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 129,720 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Less than 1% are aged 0-4;
• Nearly 1% are aged 5-12;
• 1% are aged 13-18;
• 6% are aged 19-24;
• 39% are aged 25-49;
• 28% are aged 50-64; and
• 24% 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 4,689 resident cases of COVID-19, and 504 cases among employees, for a total of 5,193 at 374 distinct facilities in 35 counties. Out of our total deaths, 682 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.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, April 19:

• Issued a fact sheet on the new worker safety order.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

County Case Counts to Date

COVID-19 Cases Associated with Nursing Homes and Personal Care Homes to Date

(Bridgewater, Pa.) A one car accident occurred in Bridgewater Saturday Morning, April 18, 2020. Police were called to the scene a little after 9:00 a.m. for reports of a car in a building.

News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has a report from Bridwater Police. Press the play button below to hear:

A first responder who stated that he responded to the accident on Beaver County Radio’s Facebook page, said the driver was a pregnant female who had a medical issue.

(North Sewickley, Pa.)  A man who was standing in the Westbound lanes of the Pa turnpike for unknown reasons was struck and killed early Sunday morning.

Christopher Elliott, of Jeannette, suffered fatal injuries after he was struck by a vehicle being driven by Daniel Hickman, of Penn Hills near mile marker 15.5.

Beaver County Coroner David Gabauer said Elliott’s death was accidental and he died due to blunt force trauma to the trunk or torso.

Story by Mark Peterson. Photos by Taylor Murphy

(New Galilee, PA) Drive-in movies and car cruises are two of the things that make the nicer weather months enjoyable in Western Pennsylvania.  Add in the attraction of an outdoor concert, and a very good motivational speaker, and it’s easy to guess that an event with all of those would easily become very popular.  This is true especially in this current day and age when PA Governor Tom Wolfe’s “stay at home” and “social distancing” orders are in place.  That’s exactly what happened yesterday in Galilee. For the third week in a row, Pastor Andy Russell from the New Galilee Church Of The Nazarene, played the role of cruise master, concert promoter, planning the feature presentation, and coordinated a radio broadcast of his outdoor drive in church service on 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA and 99.3 F.M.

Once again, many people attended Russell’s newfangled outdoor drive church service/radio broadcast held in the parking lots of New Galilee Church Of The Nazarene and the lot belonging to the neighboring Lombardia Mutual Benefit Society club.  A nice crowd showed up once again even though it was no longer Palm Sunday or Easter, which coincidentally were the first two weeks that Russell tried his hand at this new method of spreading the gospel.

If there is a benefit of all the churches being closed, it’s that there are plenty of very talented  musicians available to invite to perform each week at New Galilee Church Of The Nazarene’s outdoor venue. The all star line up continued on Sunday when Kevin and Kenna Jenkins, who normally lead worship at Chippewa United Methodist Church, sang popular worship and praise tunes that were received with choruses of honking horns.

In just the third week of acting as a combination preacher/radio host, Pastor Andy Russell seemed to be settling into his new dual role pretty comfortably yesterday afternoon. At one point in time  during his sermon, when the cars were a little late honking their horns when Russell hit an obvious point that called for an “Amen” confirmation, he mused that under the circumstance, he couldn’t be sure if the congregation wasn’t paying attention, or if the slow response was due to the fact that the radio broadcast is delayed by a second or two.

During his message, Pastor Russell mentioned that the service radio broadcast on Beaver County Radio continues to be very popular , and this past week, he received well wishes  from people tuning in online via the station’s website from places as far away as Sarasota, FL.  Support for the broadcasts continues to be strong as well, he added, with financial contributions coming in at a rate that even seemed to surprise him to underwrite the weekly programs.  So, it appears for the short term, once again, this article will conclude with a phrase often used at the end of a popular television show or movie presentation, “same time, same channel next week”.

Pennsylvania homicide suspect arrested on Florida beach
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Pennsylvania homicide suspect is being held in a Florida jail after police found him taking advantage of a newly reopened Florida beach. Jacksonville Beach police said they saw Mario Matthew Gatti loitering near the dunes on Sunday. After questioning him, they realized he was wanted for an Arnold, Pennsylvania, fatal shooting. The beach was reopened Saturday and officers were patrolling to make sure people were following social distancing guidelines and other restrictions.

Police: At least 10 killed in shooting rampage in Canada
ENFIELD, Nova Scotia (AP) — Canadian police say at least 10 people are dead after a shooting rampage across the province of Nova Scotia. The suspect died after the rampage. The suspect in the active shooter investigation was arrested Sunday at a gas station after the rampage victims including a dead police officer. Another officer was injured. A man identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman was found by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the Enfield, Nova Scotia, northwest of downtown Halifax. Police have not provided a motive for the attack. By late morning, there were half a dozen police vehicles at the scene.

Coronavirus deaths rise with addition of probable deaths
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State health officials in Pennsylvania say their statewide total of coronavirus-associated deaths now stands at 1,112 with the addition of 276 new deaths because electronic and probable-cause deaths are now being reported. Dr. Rachel Levine, the commonwealth’s health secretary, said Sunday there have been at least 1,200 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total above 32,200. Levine said the majority of the deaths “did not occur overnight.” Levine emphasized that the department was basing decisions on trends in the data indicating the effectiveness of mitigation efforts.  The department says more than 460 of the total deaths have happened in residents of nursing homes or personal care facilities. Levine said seniors at those facilities are most at risk.

Evolving aid package offers billions for hospitals, testing
By HOPE YEN and LISA MASCARO Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration and Congress are nearing an agreement as early as Sunday on an aid package of up to $450 billion to boost a small-business loan program that has run out of money and add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he is hopeful of a deal later Sunday that could pass Congress quickly and get the program back up by midweek. The proposed deal would add roughly $300 billion for the government’s Paycheck Protection Program. The program has been swamped by businesses applying for loans and reached its appropriations limit last Thursday, leaving thousands of small companies in limbo. An additional $50 billion would be appropriated for disaster loans.