The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed 1,706 new coronavirus cases, raising the statewide total to 29,441.

The state health department reported 49 new fatalities, raising the state’s total of fatalities to 756. The department announced new numbers today. All of those who died are adults.

At least 54 people in central Pennsylvania have died of the virus, including two newly reported deaths today in Lancaster County.

Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Thursday the state has “bent that curve" in terms of new cases. Today’s report marks the highest number of new cases in a week, although it’s still short of the one-day high of nearly 2,000 cases on April 9.

The new state figures reflect cases reported as of midnight.

Gov. Tom Wolf hasn’t decided if Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order will be extended beyond April 30. New York and other states have extended their shutdowns into May.

A closer look

Cases have been reported in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Across the state, 117932 have tested negative for the virus, the department said.

Levine has said cases are concentrated most heavily in the Philadelphia region, the Lehigh Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia leads the state with 8,138 cases and 136 deaths. Neighboring Montgomery County has had 2,684 cases and 97 deaths.

Lehigh County now has 2,092 cases and 29 deaths. In northeastern Pennsylvania, Luzerne County has 1,668 cases and 31 deaths.

Lancaster County leads the midstate counties with 1,030 cases and 35 deaths.

Here’s a look at the cases in the other counties in the midstate: York (443 cases and 4 deaths); Lebanon (424 cases and 2 deaths); Dauphin (311 cases and 7 deaths); Cumberland (154 cases and 4 deaths); Franklin (89 cases); Adams (70 cases and 1 death); and Perry (18 cases and 1 death).

Nursing homes and hospitalizations

More than half of the state’s deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and personal care homes. There have now been 398 deaths in long-term care facilities, according to the health department.

More than 4,100 have contracted the virus in long-term care facilities, according to the health department. The department said 3,716 residents of those facilities have been infected, while 420 staffers have contracted the virus.

There are 2,587 patients with the virus being treated in hospitals. Levine has said hospitals have been able to handle the number of infected patients, a grave concern a few weeks ago. About 70 percent of the state’s ventilators are available, Levine said Thursday.

The state health department does not release figures on how many have recovered from the virus. Most people recover without requiring hospital care and hospitals that are treating patients don’t inform the state when patients are discharged, the health department has said. Some systems, including Penn State Health, have begun releasing data on those who have recovered.

Cases by gender

The state has just started breaking down cases by gender. A slight majority of those who have been infected are women. Women account for 53 percent of the cases, while men account for 46 percent. Hundreds of cases have been reported to the state that don’t include gender information.

While more women have been infected, more men have died of the virus. The state data show 420 men have died, compared to 331 women. There’s no gender information for five deaths.

Uncertainty remains

Wolf said Thursday he understands the public is craving an understanding of when some degree of normalcy will return. He said state officials are still developing metrics that would determine when restrictions can be eased.

On Wednesday, the state Senate approved a bill that would allow more businesses to open their doors, sending the measure to Wolf. The governor intends to veto the bill. He also said he’ll veto another bill that would allow counties to decide on their own if businesses can reopen.

Beginning Sunday night, Pennsylvanians will be required to wear face masks when shopping in stores. Workers will also be required to wear masks and retailers will also have to comply with new regulations, including limiting the number of shoppers in stores.

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