UPDATE: Lehigh Valley coronavirus patient who died was 55 and 2nd in family to succumb to virus

Pennsylvania reported its first death from the new coronavirus on Wednesday: an adult from the Lehigh Valley.

The patient from Northampton County was being treated at a hospital for COVID-19, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced in a brief late-afternoon news release.

The Northampton County case was reported Thursday, the Lehigh Valley’s first of two known patients. St. Luke’s University Health Network confirmed that day that the patient was being treated at its Bethlehem Township campus and said staff were following all appropriate protocols.

The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office said the patient died at the St. Luke’s Fountain Hill campus on Wednesday.

When the Lehigh Valley case was announced, Pennsylvania had 22 known infections of the coronavirus. As of Wednesday, the state was up to 133, including 37 announced in the last day.

If you may have been exposed or exhibit the symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, cough and shortness of breath – contact your healthcare provider.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov and the CDC website.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. If there’s anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.