October 24, 2020

Pennsylvania hits record for highest number of new COVID-19 cases recorded in one day

There were 2,219 new coronavirus cases reported Thursday, officials said

By Allie Miller
PhillyVoice Staff

Pennsylvania recently reported its highest day of daily positive COVID-19 cases than any day of the pandemic thus far.

On Thursday, the highest number of new cases in a single day were reported in the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said.

The Pennsylvania DOH said at midnight on Friday that 2,219 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday alone, bringing the statewide total of cases since the start of the pandemic to nearly 191,000, with 8,625 total reported deaths.

Case counts have been steadily climbing since the start of the month in Pennsylvania. Officials reported Wednesday there had been at least 14 straight days of 1,000 or more cases reported per day. Pennsylvania also recently qualified for the COVID-19 quarantine travel advisory lists of the neighboring states of New York and New Jersey due to its high case counts.

#COVID19 Update (as of 10/23/20 at 12:00 am):
• 2,219 additional positive cases of COVID-19
• 190,579 total cases statewide
• 8,625 deaths statewide
• 2,200,868 patients tested negative to date

More information: https://t.co/7pzosFeSwv
— PA Department of Health (@PAHealthDept) October 23, 2020

The new daily record comes amid surging case counts state and nationwide. It coincides with the U.S.'s new record for daily COVID-19 case counts which was also reported Thursday.

There were 77,640 new cases reported in a single day, bringing the national total to 8.4 million positive results since testing began.

In Philadelphia, officials are also noticing a "fall surge" of rising cases. Health Commissioner Tom Farley said during a press briefing Tuesday that weekly case counts were the highest they'd been since mid-May. For the week ending Oct. 10, Philly averaged 189 daily reported cases.

There have been 41,972 total positive COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic in Philadephia, and 1,853 reported deaths. On Friday alone, there were at least 397 new positive test results, the Philadelphia Public Health Department said.

Oct 23, 2020 @PhiladelphiaGov COVID-19 update:

397 new cases
41,564 total cases
14 new probable cases from rapid tests

1 new death
1,853 total deaths

For more info: https://t.co/7UZp394cBJ pic.twitter.com/bkRu4FzFHx
— Philadelphia Public Health (@PHLPublicHealth) October 23, 2020

Philadelphia held a ceremony at Independence Mall on Friday to honor the more than 8,000 lives lost to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania thus far. There 860 white chairs placed on the lawn to each represent 10 people who died from the virus since the start of the pandemic.

The chairs remained empty while loved ones visited the memorial while wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

A memorial on #IndependenceMall commemorates Over 8500 Pennsylvanians lost to Covid. @SurvivorsChange @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/On4Mksrx7b
— Hadas Kuznits (@hadaskuznits) October 23, 2020

Empty chairs set up on Independence Mall symbolize 8,500+ Pennsylvania lives lost to COVID-19. Families will speak during a virtual ceremony at noon. @6abc pic.twitter.com/2jsdJHcjrX
— Trish Hartman (@TrishHartman) October 23, 2020

Bari Himes of Horsham lost her mom, Rose, to COVID this year. She’s one of the speakers at COVID Survivors for Change on Independence Mall today.

“There is a face, there is a soul to these numbers,” she said.

Each empty chair represents 10 dead from COVID in Pa. pic.twitter.com/L6iKSa7vSk
— Stephanie Farr (@FarFarrAway) October 23, 2020

New Jersey reported almost 2,000 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, the highest daily numbers that the state has seen since May.

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