Northeast Pennsylvania continues to produce the most coronavirus cases for the Geisinger Health System, but it appears the trend is slowing, the hospital chain's top executive said Friday in a conference call.

Cases from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties have represented the "most substantial climb" in the degree of cases in recent weeks, but that climb is diminishing, Dr. Jaewon Ryu, president and CEO of Geisinger Health System, said.

"Even there, it's worth noting that over the last week we've seen the early evidence there may be some flattening. That's reassuring," Ryu said.

So far, Geisinger has tested about 11,000 people for coronavirus and approximately 15% of them tested positive, Ryu said.

Of that 15%, about 15% need some form of hospitalization while the others are able to quarantine at home, he said.

A total of 40 patients have died, Ryu said.

While there are some good signs, it's clear the coronavirus won't be eradicated anytime soon, Ryu said.

"This will be with us into June, July and perhaps even August, depending on the area you are talking about," Ryu said.