Coronavirus updates: As Pa. grapples with over 79K cases, more testing sites set to open

Pennsylvania has more than 79,000 coronavirus cases after Monday's report included an additional 323 cases. The statewide total stands at 79,121. 

To date, the Pennsylvania Department of Health says 513,909 people have tested negative for the virus and 6,243 Pennsylvanians have died after contracting it. 

As confirmed cases of the coronavirus continue to rise in at least a dozen U.S. states, the virus is wreaking havoc across the globe. Brazil on Saturday surpassed Britain's deaths in the No. 2 spot behind the U.S. India reported a record daily new cases. And in China, parts of Beijing have been locked down.

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More virus-test sites opening across northern Pennsylvania

Gov. Tom Wolf's administration said Monday that more free coronavirus drive-through testing sites will open in Walmart parking lots across northern Pennsylvania as it seeks to expand testing to areas where there is little available.

Nine more sites will open Wednesday at Walmart parking lots in Sayre, State College, Edinboro, New Castle, Grove City, Coal Township, Selinsgrove, Lewisburg and Mansfield, the administration said.

That brings the total number of free coronavirus drive-through testing sites in Walmart parking lots to 19, it said.

The sites will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. People seeking a test must register online a day in advance and must print out a voucher and bring it with them to the testing site.

Test results are to be emailed within a day or two, and a physician will call a patient who tested positive, the administration said.

Meanwhile, UPMC Northwest also opened a testing site in Reno, in Venango County, open Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 1-833-559-7680.

County breakdown of cases, testing

Here's a breakdown of the positive and negative tests of the coronavirus in southcentral Pennsylvania as well as the deaths reported in those counties as of June 15:

Adams

• Positive: 296
• Negative: 4,138
• Deaths: 9

Cumberland

• Positive: 738
• Negative: 8,023
• Deaths: 60

Dauphin

• Positive: 1,655
• Negative: 13,717
• Deaths: 107

Franklin

• Positive: 843
• Negative: 6,659
• Deaths: 42

Lancaster

• Positive: 3,777
• Negative: 21,581
• Deaths: 331

Lebanon

• Positive: 1,190
• Negative: 6,590
• Deaths: 40

York

• Positive: 1,169
• Negative: 17,797
• Deaths: 32

How many cases of coronavirus does Pa. have? 

Here's a look at the numbers in Pennsylvania:

• Cases: 79,121
• New cases: 323 new cases as of June 15
• Deaths: 6,243
• Patients who tested negative: 513,909

Pa. cases by county

To see the health department's dashboard for county-by-county information, visit health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus. 

Coronavirus symptoms, testing 

According to the CDC, reported illnesses from COVID-19 have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death.   

Fever, cough and shortness of breath might appear 2 to 14 days after you've been exposed to the virus.

If you think you've been exposed to the coronavirus and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your primary healthcare provider immediately for guidance, including whether you should be tested.

Testing overall is still about 10 to 14 days behind, meaning the data today shows the rate of infection two weeks ago. 

The CDC is now shifting its testing efforts to include new antibody tests that will help determine who was infected and asymptomatic, and may now be immune to the virus.

Preventing the spread

There is currently neither a vaccine nor an approved treatment for the new, or novel, coronavirus. While many people might only get mild symptoms, older adults and those who already have medical issues can end up with more serious complications. There's concern that a fast spread of the virus could overwhelm the health system to provide care, including the need for respirators in serious cases. 

With further spread of the virus and disruptions to everyday life expected, officials remind residents to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

You should also cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow (not your hands), clean surfaces that are frequently touched (such as countertops, light switches and phones), and stay home if you are sick. 

The Associated Press and USA Today contributed to this article.