COVID Hospitalizations In Philly Near 800 As Virus Surges

PHILADELPHIA — Coronavirus-specific hospitalizations in Philadelphia continue to rise and could reach record numbers if the current surge continues.

According to the Philadelphia Department of Health, 746 patients with coronavirus are being treated in Philadelphia hospitals.

Of those 746 patients, 68 are on ventilators.

According to data, the highest number of hospitalizations in Philadelphia was 975 on May 4, 2020.

As of Thursday, 204,487 Philadelphians have been diagnosed with the virus, and 4,230 have succumbed to the virus.

Philadelphia is averaging 1,972 new cases per day over the last two weeks.

The total number of fully vaccinated Philadelphians to at least 960,448, and the number of Philadelphians with at least one dose vaccine to at least 1,213,684.

Currently, 77.3 percent of Philadelphia adults are fully vaccinated, and 97.7 percent of Philadelphia adults have received at least one dose vaccine.

All residents age 5 and older are eligible to be vaccinated in Philadelphia.

24.6 percent of 5-to-11-year-olds in Philadelphia have received at least one vaccine dose.

Among eligible Philadelphians ages 12 and older, 71.6 percent are fully vaccinated, and 90.5 percent have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

As New Year's Eve and New Year's Day approaches, Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole is urging single-household gatherings indoors.

For people who will still be getting together, there are a number of things that can be done to reduce everyone’s risk, according to the health department.

Anyone who feels sick should not attend any gatherings and stay away from others. This is true even if a person cannot be tested or tests negative for coronavirus, as there are a number of viruses circulating that shouldn’t be shared with others, the health department said.

Those who are planning together should get tested for coronavirus if possible. This will help identify anyone who has become infectious but might not be showing symptoms of coronavirus.

Increased ventilation has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus and officials recommend opening windows and doors or, ideally, hold the gathering outdoors.