By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Some parts of the country may be seeing an apex in COVID-19 cases, it appears both Pennsylvania and Chester County are not there yet, as both new cases and deaths spiked again on Thursday.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) said there were 1,751 new cases reported, bringing the state’s total to 19,979; deaths also increased to 78, boosting the statewide total of fatalities to 416.
“Now more than ever, as we continue to see COVID-19 cases and deaths rise in Pennsylvania, we need Pennsylvanians to take action,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Those actions should be to stay calm, stay home and stay safe. If you must go out, please limit it to as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and our healthcare workers and frontline responders.”
DOH reports 93,040 negative tests to date in Pennsylvania.
In Chester County, the numbers are equally grim. The county’s Health Department reported 64 new cases and three additional deaths in Chester County on Thursday. There are a now a total of 489 cases and a total of nine deaths.
2,853 negative test results have been received.
Meanwhile, more than 850 Pennsylvania National Guard (PNG) troops, called out by Gov. Tom Wolf to assist communities with the COVID-19 virus outbreak, are on the job, said Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), said Friday.
“The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has called upon state employees and the National Guard to go ‘outside the wire’ in this war against the virus to help save the lives of our families, neighbors, friends, veterans and fellow citizens,” said Carrelli. “We are providing the critical support to continue training for our deploying units, fueling the state active duty enterprise, continuing veteran benefit programs, and caring for the residents in our six veterans’ homes.”
Carrrelli also reassured veterans that they will continue to receive their benefits.
The PNG was called early-on during COVID-19 to provide transportation to 30 Pennsylvania residents who were on the Grand Princess cruise ship back to their homes throughout the commonwealth, after they arrived at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown.
As COVID-19 began making its way throughout Pennsylvania communities, the PNG has been called upon even more to protect and safeguard the health of citizens. Highlights include setting up a drive-through testing site in Montgomery County; helping a food bank pack emergency food in Pittsburgh; unloading much-needed medical supplies in Harrisburg; and helping to standup a federal medical facility at Glen Mills School in Delaware County.
The DMVA Office of Veterans Affairs team is steadily working to make sure Pennsylvania’s nearly 800,000 veterans continue to receive the benefits they have earned through their service to our country. These benefits include care for 1,300 residents in six veterans homes; locating military records, providing financial assistance during unforeseen financial crisis; and administering pension programs for service-connected disabilities.
For updates on DMVA visit www.dmva.pa.gov. For updates on the PNG visit www.pa.ng.mil.
