Philadelphia, Montgomery County and the immediate region remain the epicenter for the coronavirus outbreak in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting 71 cases in Montgomery County, 69 in Philadelphia, 33 in Delaware County, 24 in Bucks County, and 19 in Chester County.
As such, public health officials like Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine is cautioning against interactions that would lead to community spread. A second person has died and Dr. Levine is reminding people to follow recommended practices and to stay home to prevent unintentional spread of this deadly disease.
To help prevent overextending our existing health infrastructure, officials urge people to self-assess whether they are sick and be mindful that there are a limited amount of coronavirus tests and resources available at this time. Follow the link to a fact sheet to learn more about testing.
If you are experiencing symptoms and in need of testing here are organizations providing coronavirus COVID-19 tests in the Philadelphia region:
- CHOP in West Philly
- Multiple locations of Jefferson Health
- Einstein Medical Center in North Philadelphia
- Temple’s main campus
- Multiple locations of Penn Medicine
- Multiple locations of PHMC
- Multiple locations of Trinity Health
Drive through testing is available at:
Read more: CDC recommendations on getting tested for coronavirus
Here is guide issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, helping provide clear guidance and direction in response to coronavirus COVID-19.
Montgomery County is doing the same.
Senator Hughes and his colleagues in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus are working to ensure state-level resources get to our people, especially the most vulnerable. We will provide more information as it becomes available. Visit senatorhughes.com/coronavirus for the latest updates.
In the meantime, here are some reminders about preventing spread of the disease:
Best practices to plan, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
Symptoms of the COVID-19 can include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.
What to do if you think you have coronavirus COVID-19, according to the CDC:
- Stay home except to get medical care
- Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
- Call ahead before visiting your doctor
- Wear a facemask if you are sick
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Clean your hands often
- Avoid sharing personal household items
- Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday
For more details on what to do prevent coronavirus COVID-19 spread, visit the CDCs full list of recommendations.
