UPDATE: 6 more coronavirus cases bring Pennsylvania’s total to 47

As the number of coronavirus cases in the state nearly doubled in a day, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is trying to take decisive, but measured action by shutting down all of the state’s public schools for 10 days and spreading containment measures to a second suburban Philadelphia county.

Wolf held a Friday evening news briefing, which was live-streamed, on the heels of his decision to close all of the state’s public schools in hopes of slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

“We are trying to be measured in our response to this health crisis," Wolf said. "The goal is always to keep Pennsylvanians safe.”

On Thursday, Wolf closed all schools in Montgomery County -- the epicenter of the state’s outbreak with 18 cases -- and ordered all community centers, gyms and entertainment venues to close for two weeks. Starting Saturday, the governor is extending those closures of “non-essential businesses” to neighboring Delaware County, which now has six cases.

“I know that some of you are worried. We believe that by asking everyone to cooperate and spend a few days limiting their interactions with other people we can help control the spread of this virus in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “And that ultimately is going to save lives and that is what this is about. Please stay calm and, by all means, stay home.”

At the briefing, state health officials reported eight more presumptive cases of COVID-19, bringing Pennsylvania’s total to 41 people who have tested positive. There are about 130 tests currently pending, according to the state health department.

Of the new cases, there are two adults and one child in Cumberland County; 1 in Montgomery County; two more in Delaware County; one in Bucks County and one in Washington County, said Dr. Rachel Levine, state secretary of health. A case that was reported as being in Delaware County earlier is in fact someone who lives in neighboring Chester County, giving the county its first case, Levine said.

There is still only one presumptive case in the Lehigh Valley, but the majority of cases are concentrated in the suburban Philadelphia area. Earlier Friday, officials announced the state’s first pediatric case in Monroe County.

“None of the cases I announced this evening have community spread,” Levine confirmed.

Pennsylvania’s taking a measured approach, which Wolf said is different than other states, trying to mitigate areas where the virus is spreading rapidly with targeted actions.

“Our hope is that ... when we look back on this, we have done no less than we need to keep ourselves safe. We don’t want to do more than the situation requires either,” the governor said. “We don’t want to do less; we don’t want to do more. My hope is that we have taken actions that are decisive and absolutely appropriate.”

Wolf initially focused on responding to where the risk seems greatest. He decided to close all of Pennsylvania’s public schools after speaking to the state’s educators, who argued strongly for closing all schools across the state to mitigate the health crisis, he said.

“Right now we are under control and we want to stay that way,” Wolf said.

The governor is urging all Pennsylvanians take steps of social distancing in hopes of slowing the spread of COVID-19 to avoid overwhelming the medical system.

State education Secretary Pedro Rivera said the total closure represents a comprehensive approach that allows the state to best support school districts as they try to provide essential services -- like meals and counseling -- to students and families through a closure.

Schools will have not to make up these days and the state will seek federal standardized testing waivers, Rivera said.

Wolf has said his shutdown order in Delaware and Montgomery counties will be continually evaluated and could spread to other counties. It also applies to higher education, gyms, child day cares and adult care centers. Gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, government facilities, utilities and mass transit should continue to operate, he said, while no-visitor policies are to be adopted by prisons and nursing homes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. If there’s anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.