'We Are At The Start Of The Fall Resurgence': Pennsylvania Health Officials Warn Coronavirus Curve Going Back Up
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania health officials say the coronavirus curve is going back up, which is causing concern among state officials.
"With the data that we have just reported, we believe that we are at the start of the fall resurgence," Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said.
State health officials say today marks nine days straight of daily coronavirus case counts totaling more than 1,000. Hospitalization rates are also going up.
Officials are now asking everyone to wear a mask, remain socially distant and wash your hands to help flatten the curve once again.
"It's very hard to predict what the future will bring but we have been talking for months that we were concerned that as we entered the fall season, as the weather started to change, that we would see a resurgence in terms of the numbers of COVID-19," Levine said.
But, Levine says the state is following national trends of increased positivity rates. However, she says the state is better prepared now than back in March.
As of now, there are no plans to impose additional lockdown orders.
"It's impossible for me to predict the future, but again, we're in a much better place than we were in the spring," Levine said.
The federal government is increasing access to additional testing as 150 million rapid tests are being distributed.
"Of the 100 million remaining tests, Pennsylvania is being allocated on a per capita basis -- over 3.8 million Abbott BinaxNOW antigen rapid tests, from now through the end of December. The Pennsylvanian Department of Health has already received the first allocation in shipments of 250,000 tests will continue weekly until the end of December," said Michael Huff, director of Pennsylvania's contact tracing and testing.
The rapid tests will first be distributed in counties where there are current outbreaks. Tests will also first go to high-risk populations, like those living in nursing homes, college campuses and prisons.
