By EUGENE TAUBER
THE MORNING CALL
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 2,317 additional coronavirus cases on Saturday, the highest single-day number in more than three months. The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases was 1,848, up 34% from a week ago, and up more than sevenfold over the last 30 days.
To date, there have been 1.25 million infections statewide.
The state has crossed the threshold into “high” community transmission as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pennsylvania has added 101.4 cases over the last seven days for each 100,000 residents.
There are now 24 counties also in the high transmission classification, lead for almost two weeks by Northampton County, with a weekly population-adjusted rate of 158.5. Lehigh, Monroe and Montgomery are also in the highest of the four tiers, while 37 counties are in the “substantial” tier, and 5 are considered “moderate.” Only Sullivan County has a weekly rate under 10 cases per 100,000 residents, putting it in the “low” community transmission tier.
