Nearly all Pa. counties show substantial spread of COVID-19, positive test rate drops for 6th week - PennLive

While the rate is dropping, health officials have said a positive test rate of 5% is a troubling sign of community spread.

The Wolf administration said there is now substantial transmission of COVID-19 in 66 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

The state had seen substantial spread of the coronavirus in every Pennsylvania county for the previous six weeks, so that streak has ended.

The Wolf administration uses three categories to gauge the spread of COVID-19: low, moderate and substantial.

“After six straight weeks of all 67 counties reporting in the substantial level of transmission, we now have one county moving into the low level of transmission category – a great sign of progress,” Wolf said in a statement.

Earlier this month, the Wolf administration said it is recommending that school districts focus on returning elementary school students to classrooms, even in counties with a substantial spread of the virus.

Last week, Wolf said he is nominating Alison Beam, his deputy chief of staff, to succeed outgoing Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr.

Wendy Braund as Interim Acting Physician General, replacing Levine in that position.She has been serving as the COVID-19 Response Director for the state health department.

More than 807,000 people in Pennsylvania have contracted the coronavirus and more than 20,600 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, according to the state health department.