Monroe County has reported its first coronavirus death and Schuylkill County has its first case.

A 56-year-old man from East Stroudsburg died on Sunday at the Lehigh Valley Hospital-East Stroudsburg campus, according to county coroner Tom Yanac.

Yanac said the man - who tested positive for COVID-19 - died due to complications from the virus. County officials have not released the man’s name.

The number of reported cases throughout the state is growing rapidly.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported more than 100 cases each day on Saturday and Sunday, bringing the total to 479. Health Department Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine was adamant about knowing the early symptoms and staying at home.

No cases have been reported in Carbon County as of Sunday. Monroe County leads the area, with 31 reported cases. Northampton County had 21 cases and Lehigh County had 19 as of press time.

Details of the Schuylkill County case have not been reported, including whether the patient affected is an adult or child.

“At this time, we are receiving aggregate reports of cases, and it does not break down so we would be able to say how many pediatric cases we have. This is because of the wide range of locations reporting to the department,” said Nate Wardle, press secretary.

“With that said, we do know that we have a number of pediatric and young adult cases, which highlights why the mitigation and stay-at-home message is so important for all age groups,” Wardle said.

New cases every day

Levine said rural areas might have fewer cases reported because the population isn’t as dense as the cities.

“That doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. Cases in new counties are being diagnosed every day.”

Levine added that COVID-19 is “extremely serious and deadly.”

Similar to the flu, the number of cases are probably higher than what is reported, as people with mild symptoms are asked not to get tested. The early symptoms are a cough, followed by a fever. Symptoms develop in an average of five days after exposure.

Levine said the person can have a low-grade fever but not be ill. In these cases, the patient might not be tested. Officials want to keep the tests for those who need them the most: the high-risk groups and health care professionals.

Instead, Levine stressed again that people need to stay home. “Follow your health care provider’s advice. There is no treatment for COVID-19, so if you have very mild symptoms, please stay at home and rest.”

People should be sure to drink lots of fluids and take fever-reducing medicine.

Likewise, people with no symptoms will not be tested. If the test is given too early, it could come back negative, with the person developing symptoms a few days later. In the meantime, that person could have infected others.

Levine stressed the need to talk to doctors if you have any symptoms. Various tests have hit the market, but people need to stick with ones administered by health care professionals that are FDA-approved.

Laboratories are giving priority to high-risk patients and health care professionals. The coronavirus is termed a novel virus and has several strains. Levine said the tests can detect all strains.

Stay at home

Levine said Sunday there is currently no plan in place for a shelter in place order statewide as has been ordered in Philadelphia, but the stay-at-home recommendation remains strong.

“We are doubling the number of new cases every two or more days,” Levine said.

The stay-at-home recommendation means people need to hunker down with their immediate family.

That means no play dates with neighboring children or get-togethers, though Levine stressed it’s important to get outside in the sunshine. Many playgrounds have been closed in response to the message about isolation.

The incubation period for COVID-19 is two to 14 days, so people may not even know they have been exposed and can be spreading the illness to others if they persist in going out.

At risk

People in the high-risk group include those with heart disease, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes and autoimmune disorders.

Age is not a deterrent, though older people are more likely to have complications.

“We are still seeing a significant number of young adults,” Levine said, adding most patients are middle-age adults.

Ten percent of patients will need hospitalization. If the spread of the illness cannot be controlled, Levine said, “we will tax hospitals.”

To combat that, Levine said contingency plans are in place to add more hospital beds for those who are not as severe. Guidelines have been relaxed for nurses whose licenses are about to expire but haven’t had time to renew.

Businesses

Nonessential businesses have been ordered to close, with state police enforcing the rule beginning at 8 a.m. today.

Even if a shelter in place order is given, supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open.

Levine also expects takeout food places to remain open.

“People need to eat,” she said. “Some people can’t prepare their own food.”

She is not aware of any order to ban travel to and from other states, but said if you don’t need to go somewhere, stay home.

“It’s most important to stay calm, stay home and stay safe,” Levine said. “Pennsylvania has strong and resilient communities. We will get through this if we work together.”

Terry Ahner contributed to this report.