By Eugene Tauber, The Morning Call

The state Department of Health reported 9,230 additional cases of the coronavirus Thursday, with 276 new deaths ― the second highest of the pandemic.

The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases was 8,722, down 15% from 10,292 a week ago. To date, there have been 590,386 infections statewide since the start of the pandemic.

The predicted winter surge in new infections has moderated in the past week, although the western and south-central parts of the state continue to experience high infection rates. In the Northeast, Lackawanna County set a new daily record by adding 187 cases Thursday, although its seven-day average is in the lowest third of the state’s 67 counties.

Deaths

Overall: There were 276 new deaths, compared to 230 the day before, bringing the total to 14,718. Thursday’s report marks the second-highest daily death report since the beginning of May.https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/4540791/embed?auto=1A Flourish chart

Hospitalizations

There were 6,077 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of midday Thursday, with 1,219 of them in intensive care units and 743 on ventilators. Those numbers are down slightly from highs hit in the past week.

The Health Department’s dashboard shows that Lehigh County has only 16 of its 189 staffed intensive care beds available, a rate of 8.5%. There are 71 COVID-19 patients in the county’s intensive care units. Northampton County shows two of its 20 intensive care beds unoccupied. Half of Northampton’s intensive care beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Testing

There were 19,398 new tests, for a positive test rate of nearly 40%, compared to 20,328 tests and a positivity rate of 39% the day before. The overall positive test rate is now at 14.3%.

Lehigh Valley

Cases: There were 744 additional case reports, with 394 in Lehigh County and 350 in Northampton County. That is the highest number of cases added in two weeks. The total for the Valley is 33,797.

Deaths: There were 16 new deaths (8 each in Lehigh and Northampton counties), compared to 10 the day before. That brings the total to 871.

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