HARRISBURG—The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting a slight decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases statewide this week, however the southcentral and southeastern parts of the state remain with more than 2,000 positive cases.
As of Monday, Jan. 24, Franklin County had a total of 31,064 confirmed cases, with the Waynesboro zip code registering 6,804 confirmed cases.
“Although we are seeing a slight decrease in the seven-day moving average of COVID-19 cases, it is much too early to let down our guard,” said Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter. “What we have seen during previous surges is that hospitalizations remain high for a couple of weeks after case counts start to decline. That means that our frontline healthcare workers need our continued support and a commitment to get vaccinated, get boosted, wear masks in public indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status and get tested when appropriate.”
The Wolf Administration this week unveiled the first component of its multi-layered initiative to support Pennsylvania’s healthcare staffing shortage amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The first state-directed healthcare strike team is now deployed and more are on the way.
“Despite the slight decrease in cases, staffing resources are in high-demand from Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems, whose frontline healthcare workers are exhausted and in need of support while they continue to see record numbers,” she said.
Meanwhile the Administration is encouraging residents to avoid seeking COVID-19 tests at hospitals by taking an active role in increasing testing capacity throughout the commonwealth
Pennsylvania continues to make critical strides in getting eligible residents vaccinated by working closely with vaccine providers, grassroots organizations, and relevant stakeholders to ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the CDC, as of Monday, Jan. 24, 75.3% of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated. This percentage reflects all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
For more information on the Department of Health’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit here.
