The news on the COVID-19 front for Pennsylvania has been encouraging as of late. The number of deaths statewide has decreased dramatically. Five weeks ago there were 104 deaths from COVID-19 in the state. Four weeks ago there were 86. Three weeks ago there were 53. Two weeks ago there were 43. Last week there were 5 in the whole state followed by one death this week. This is part of a promising trend for the waning pandemic. This post will look at the trend in the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania as restrictions wind down. The graph above shows that daily deaths have reached their lowest levels since July of 2021.
The trend is similar locally with the number of deaths falling since March 22 (the dotted black line). Likewise, there has been a decline in the number of cases with the 7 day average approaching one. Like the number of deaths, this is also the lowest level of cases since July of 2021.
The above graph at the top shows the that the daily number of vaccinations has decreased since last fall. There has been larger numbers receiving booster shots since the fall of 2021. The graph immediately above is focused on the trend in full vaccinations (dark blue bars) since July of last year. Since April the number receiving the first two doses has fallen to less than 100 per day statewide.
The trend for COVID-19 cases, deaths, and vaccinations has decreased in Pennsylvania. The Johns-Hopkins dashboard for national COVID-19 cases and deaths has been suspended. Likewise, the CDC no longer reports case numbers. People may be feeling relieved at these numbers but as vaccination rates remain stagnant (34.54% of the state’s population remains unvaccinated), a comeback with a new lethal variant is always possible. Further research with County Health Rankings data is necessary.