Pennsylvania health officials say 83 new cases of coronavirus have been reported, bringing the statewide total to 268.

The state Department of Health released new numbers Friday and it’s the largest one-day increase to date. On Thursday, the state reported 52 new cases being confirmed. For perspective, last Friday there were only 41 cases confirmed in the state.

There are 2,574 patients who have tested negative, the department said. Since most testing is now being done in commercial or hospital laboratories, the state no longer provides numbers on the pending cases awaiting confirmation.

Most of the cases have been reported in the Philadelphia region but the virus continues to spread statewide. State officials have confirmed cases in 26 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Confirmed cases have been found in central Pennsylvania, including in Cumberland, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties, state officials said. York County reported 4 new cases, bringing the county’s total to 6. Franklin County and Centre County both have their first confirmed cases, the department said Friday.

More cases are being reported in western Pennsylvania as well, with Allegheny County now reporting 28 cases. The health department said Friday a case has been reported in Erie County for the first time.

Carmine Fusco, a 55-year-old horse trainer in Northampton County, died Wednesday, becoming the state’s first fatality in the pandemic; his mother and two siblings in New Jersey have also died due to the virus. Earlier this week, Gov. Tom Wolf said Fusco’s death “is just the first death of what will become many.”

The governor has been taking increasingly aggressive steps to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Yesterday, Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Using his authority under an emergency declaration, Wolf intends to begin enforcing this order starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Some business trade groups say companies need more clarity about who can stay open and who must close. Republican legislative leaders have asked the governor to provide a clearer explanation on how he took the step. Republican U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, whose district includes a large swath of central Pennsylvania, issued a statement Friday calling for Wolf to rescind the order on businesses.

Wolf previously ordered schools to close this week and next week. Penn State University and other colleges have shifted to online instruction for the remainder of the semester.

Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s health secretary, continues to stress to the public the urgent need to stay home to limit the spread of the disease. Bluntly, Levine and Wolf have said staying home saves lives.

“Pennsylvanians have a very important job right now: stay calm, stay home and stay safe," Levine said.

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