Erie County Update: May 15, 2020

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Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper reported that there were five new positive cases of COVID-19 in Erie County. Two individuals are in their 20s, while one is in their 30s, one is in their 60s, and one is in their teens. Four of these cases reside in Zone one (the City of Erie), while one is located in Zone five (western Erie County including Edinboro, Fairview, and Girard).

Two of the new cases we said to be linked to each other. "It appears that some of the others were linked to Mother's Day gatherings," Dahlkemper noted.

The cumulative positive cases for Erie County is now at 130, with 2,955 negatives (79 more than yesterday). There have been 106 recoveries to date, for a total of 24 current active cases. So far, three Erie County residents have died due to COVID-19.

Crawford County stands at 21 positive cases (no change since Monday), while McKean County now has 10 cases (up two), with one death announced Tuesday. Venango County has seven positive cases. Warren County has two cases (its second announced Wednesday).

Chautauqua County remains at 44 cases and four deaths (no change since Wednesday). Ashtabula County has 212 cases (up four) and 26 deaths.

Statewide, there were 986 additional positive cases (48 more than the previous day), for a total of 60,622 total cases. So far, there have been 4,342 deaths statewide, with 124 reported yesterday and 275 the day prior. 259,210 patients who have tested negative to date, with 7,651 more than yesterday's tallies. 

Today, 13 more counties across southwestern Pennsylvania moved into the Yellow phase as well. Today it was announced that 12 more counties, including Beaver County, will move into that phase on May 22. These include: Adams, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Wayne, and York counties.

Dahlkemper informed that Erie County residents can submit a request for masks online by going to bit.ly/maskerierequest, or by contacting ServErie at (814) 636-5286. Residents are asked to submit a request rather than making an in-person visit.

For any other larger organization or business with a mask request, contact the Erie County Health Department at ecdhinfo@eriecountypa.gov.

"And remember, your mask doesn't protect you it protects those other people you're with, so it is really a thing we need to do as our brother's keeper or our sister's keeper," Dahlkemper said.