WARREN, Pa. – When November began, Warren County had 60 cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19. In 18 days, that number has nearly doubled.
Eight new confirmed cases were reported Nov. 18 during the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s daily update Thursday. That brings the county cumulative total to 132 cases, 117 confirmed and 15 probable. The eight cases ties a single-day high set Nov. 13.
On Oct. 31, Warren County had 60 confirmed and 11 probable cases. From Nov. 1 through Nov. 18, the number of confirmed cases has nearly doubled (57). Thirty-four of those cases have been reported in the last week.
According to the DOH COVID Dashboard ZIP Code data, 33 confirmed and eight probable cases are in the Warren (16365) ZIP Code. Russell (16345) and Sugar Grove (16350) each have nine confirmed cases, while Russell has at least one probable. Youngsville (16371) has 17 confirmed and at least one probable and Pittsfield (16340) has eight confirmed. Clarendon (16313) has seven confirmed and Sheffield (16347) has six confirmed. Columbus (16405) has five confirmed.
Spring Creek (16436), Grand Valley (16420) and Tidioute (16351) all have at least one confirmed and at least one probable, while Bear Lake (16402) has at least one confirmed. The Dashboard does not list specific case numbers if there are between one and four cases for that ZIP.
Irvine (16329) is the only ZIP in Warren County that, thus far, does not have a reported case of any kind.
The rapid increase in cases statewide caused DOH Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine to announce new targeted mitigation efforts Tuesday aimed at slowing the spread of the virus. Included among those are testing requirements for travelers and a strengthening of the state’s mask mandate.
“Masking is one of the simplest steps we can all take to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Levine said during the announcement. “If you have people in your home that are not part of your household, you must wear a mask.”
While the case count increases, the county still has just a single reported COVID-19 death.
The cumulative case count includes those cases the state considers “recovered.”
A case is considered recovered “if a case has not been reported as a death, and it is more than 30 days past the date of their first positive test (or onset of symptoms) then an individual is considered recovered,” according to the Department of Health.
The rise in cases has already had a negative impact on local businesses. Both The Plaza Restaurant and Jefferson DeFrees Family Center Daycare have been forced to close due to staff coming in contact with a COVID positive patient (The Plaza was able to reopen its doors Thursday). Warren General Hospital changed its visitation policy due to the increase in cases across the region. Total Evolution Café took the proactive step of temporarily closing its indoor dining area in an effort to keep customers safe.
The Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department was forced to cancel its Christmas Auction, Craft Show and Bingo due to the rise in cases.
