Tamaqua Superintendent Raymond Kinder informed parents Saturday that a noncontact staff member in the district office. The individual has been assigned to isolation. No additional people will need to quarantine.

On Saturday the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed that there were 9,834 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 548,489.

There are 6,147 people hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,232 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19.

The trend in the 14-day moving average of number of hospitalized patients per day has increased by nearly 5,400 since the end of September.

Statewide percent positivity for the week of Dec. 4 – Dec. 10 stood at 16.2%.

As of 11:59 p.m. Friday, there were 217 new deaths reported for a total of 13,825 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 47,189 resident cases of COVID-19, and 8,616 cases among employees, for a total of 55,805 at 1,428 distinct facilities in all 67 counties. Out of our total deaths, 8,065 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Locally, Carbon County reported 2,171 cases, an increase of 48 since Friday. One additional death has been reported for a total of 85.

Lehigh County reported 17,000 an increase of 242. Three more deaths were reported since Friday, for a total of 443.

Luzerne County has 14,983 cases, an uptick of 267 since Thursday. The county reported four more deaths, bringing the total to 400.

Monroe reported 5,125, an increase of 57. Deaths are now at 185, as two more were reported Saturday.

Northampton County reported 13,855 cases, 213 more than Friday. There are 381 deaths after six more were reported Saturday.

Schuylkill reported 6,313, 366 more than Thursday. Five more deaths were reported for a running total of 223.