Philadelphia Reports Highest Daily Coronavirus Case Count Ever

PHILADELPHIA — "Wear a mask, wear a mask, wear a mask."

That was the plea to all Philadelphians from city Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley Friday during a news conference on the coronavirus, at which he reported the city's highest daily new case count to date

Farley said 742 new cases were identified Friday.

While that number is high due to numerous test results coming back, the positivity rate was the highest since late April.

Of about 5,300 tests reported Friday, 14 percent were positive.

But the trend is not surprising, as Farley said the percent of positive cases has been increasing week to week.

The rate last week was 9.1 percent, the highest since mid May.

He said the increase in cases is occurring in all ages, races, and ZIP codes in the city.

"Make no mistake about it, this is a very dangerous period," he said. "This is possibly the worst period of the entire epidemic. The best thing that people can do to stay safe and keep others safe is to stay away from others unless absolutely necessary."

Hospitalizations are increasing in the city as well.

Farley said the state reported Thursday 267 people are hospitalized with the coronavirus in Philadelphia.

The lowest number of hospitalizations was 90 in late September, and the highest was more than 1,000 on April 24.

Hospitals in the city are able to handle more cases and are aware of rising rates and hospitalizations.

Five additional deaths were reported Friday, bringing the death toll in Philadelphia to 1,889.

Farley said he is concerned about the trend in increasing deaths and expects more deaths in the coming weeks.

A few stories gleaned from contact tracing were shared, as well.

In one instance, a woman went to brunch with five friends, something Farley said he would not have recommended. Of the six-person group, four tested positive. The woman in question went to work at a day care, which led to students and staff being quarantined.

Another case was a man in hos 40s who died. The man's mother went to a wedding and showed symptoms afterward, and he became infected. Farley said the man died two weeks later.

At the close of his remarks, Farley urged residents to work from home, stay away from others unless absolutely necessary, assume everyone has it and assume you have it, and of course wear a mask.