Chester County Sees Coronavirus Deaths Double In A Week

WEST CHESTER, PA — While Chester County's total number of coronavirus cases has only increased slightly, the county has its overall deaths more than double in the past week, according to the latest data available Friday afternoon.

As of Sunday, April 19, the county had seen 31 deaths. That number grew to 77 by Friday.

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A large percentage of all of those deaths have occurred in nursing homes: a total of 61 of the county's deaths are in these facilities, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

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While the county and state have, in almost all cases, declined to specify numbers for individual facilities, the state-run Southeastern Veterans' Center in East Vincent now has recorded 21 deaths, officials said.

East Bradford and East Whiteland are two other townships with a disproportionate number, as they account for 10 and 13 deaths, respectively.

An unspecified number of cases have also been confirmed at the county-run Pocopson Home.

A total of 250 long term care facility residents and 27 facility staff around the county have tested positive for the virus.

Countywide, there are now 1,102 confirmed cases, with 4,496 negative tests.

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