Coronavirus Latest: Pennsylvania Publishes Data On COVID-19 Cases By Zip Code
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Department of Health has started releasing ZIP code-level information about cases of the novel coronavirus. State health officials published an interactive map on Monday that shows the number of confirmed cases of the new virus and the number of negative virus tests.
The map is searchable by county and ZIP code. The county data also shows the number of COVID-19 deaths.
Health Secretary Rachel Levine said even residents in communities with a relatively low number of confirmed cases should continue to heed social distancing rules, noting a lack of widespread testing means the actual number of people with the virus is far higher than what shows up in the statistics.
The virus has been spreading faster in recent days in less populated counties like Columbia, Northumberland, Juniata and Susquehanna.
Statewide, Pennsylvania on Monday reported fewer than 1,000 new virus cases for the first time since April 1. The virus has killed more than 1,200 people and sickened more than 33,000 through 12 a.m. Monday.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said the state has made sufficient progress in its fight against to begin gradually reopening some businesses in early May. Republicans are pushing a more aggressive timetable.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a couple of weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press.
