The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting Pennsylvania the hardest in its brief history, according to department of health secretary Dr. Rachel Levine.

Despite historic numbers, do not expect the state to shut down schools again.

“We absolutely do not plan to have a general school closure as happened in the spring,” Levine said. “But we might continue to make adjustments in our recommendations to schools.

“All of the guidance and recommendations are just that. They are not orders. There is local control in Pennsylvania and those decisions made by local authorities.”

Levine said over 4,000 new cases were reported on Saturday, 2,909 Sunday and she reported 3,402 Monday. Those figures contributed to the highest COVID-19 count across the state since the pandemic started. The total case count is now 234,296.

“This is a call to action for everyone in Pennsylvania,” Levine said. “COVID-19 is right here. We are at a critical point. We all need to take steps to prevent the virus. If we don’t, we put ourselves, our families, our communities and health systems at risk. I am calling on all Pennsylvanians to answer the call to stop the spread of the virus.”

Numbers jumping everywhere

In the past week, there has been an increase of about 500 hospitalized patients. Additionally, 52 counties have “percent positives” over 5%.

The state is not getting the information it needs from the public when called upon. Levine urged Pennsylvanians to answer the phone and cooperate when case investigators or tracers reach out.

“For the week of Oct. 25-31, only 21% of people that were asked answered the question about whether or not they frequented in a large business or large gathering,” Levine said. “This percent continues to decrease. More and more people are not providing the information we need as part of our investigation.”

Levine said 47 counties are on a watch list and 54 of the 67 had increasing cases over the last week.

In long term nursing care, four facilities in Carbon County are reporting a total of 114 cases since the pandemic began.

Lehigh County has 1,235 cases in 35 facilities and Northampton County is reporting 980 facilities in 24 facilities.

Luzerne County has 660 cases reported in 34 facilities.

Monroe has reported 660 cases in eight facilities.

Schuylkill County is reporting 501 cases in 18 facilities.

On Monday, St. Luke’s Miners Campus President Wendy Lazo said the skilled nursing section “has had a handful of positive cases in recent weeks. Positive patients have been isolated as we continue to follow all applicable infection control protocols.”

Vaccine developments

As for a vaccine, Levine doesn’t know for certain when or if it’s coming. But there have been recent developments.

“We don’t know exactly when we’re going to see it. But it was a very positive announcement from Pfizer that their vaccine has shown to be very effective; they said up to 90% effective.

They have finished their efficacy studies. They still haven’t finished all of their safety studies. They are anticipating that by may be the end of November or beginning of December.”

Levine briefly explained that there would be three phases.

“Phase 1 is going to primarily be to health care personnel of various types. If it’s this vaccine, it’s going to have to be administered through our excellent health systems that have the capacity to immunize large amounts of people that have those refrigeration capacities (to store the vaccine). We will be facilitating all of that. When they release phase 2 and phase 3, we stand ready to act then.”