IE 11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

PEMA Helping Vet Alternative Care Sites for Hospital Surge

There are now 686 cases in the Lehigh Valley, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Lehigh and Northampton counties combined on Wednesday saw a one-day increase in coronavirus cases of more than 32%.

(TNS) -- Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield said his agency is helping to vet “alternative care sites” that will treat patients outside of traditional hospitals as the number of coronavirus patients statewide surges.

Padfield made the comments in a press conference Thursday morning. He did not speak about specific sites or the number of sites.

Asked about the recent, rapid increase in coronavirus cases in the Lehigh Valley, Padfield said he could not speak specifically about case counts in a certain area.

The update from PEMA came as the number of coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania has reached 5,805, with 74 deaths reported.

There are now 686 cases in the Lehigh Valley, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Lehigh and Northampton counties combined on Wednesday saw a one-day increase in coronavirus cases of more than 32%, following a one-day increase of about 24% Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf, using his most blunt language to date on the coronavirus crisis, said, “There are some people you will never see again” unless residents heed orders to mitigate the virus spread.

Wolf said the virus had reached every corner of the state, and he extended his order for residents to stay at home, except for necessary trips, to all 67 counties across the commonwealth.

Both Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine implored residents to obey the stay-at-home order, which lasts until April 30. The order and other measures, like an order that closed non-life-sustaining businesses, are meant to slow the rate of increase of infections and lessen the chance hospitals will be overwhelmed.

Wolf also has closed the state’s public schools indefinitely.

This story will be updated. Morning Call reporter Ford Turner can be reached at 717-783-7305 or fturner@mcall.com

———

©2020 The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)

Visit The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) at www.mcall.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.