Gov. Tom Wolf stressed Monday the role the state’s manufacturers can play in this fight to stop the spread of coronavirus in Pennsylvania.

“We’re continuing to see a growth in the number of cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania,” he said. “A surge is coming, and the when and how bad that surge is really depends on all of us, what we do. We need to keep doing the things that we know can save lives. We need to continue social distancing; we need to do as much as we can to support our health care systems throughout the commonwealth.

“We need protective equipment, we need ventilators, we need staff. We’re also working to acquire as much equipment as possible, but we’ve had challenges in purchasing equipment, because really, there just isn’t enough supply to meet the demand. And right now, every state, and many countries for that matter, are looking to build their supplies of personal protective equipment of ventilators, and the things that they need, and we need, to fight this epidemic.”

Part of that process involved the creation of the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Call to Action Portal, announced Saturday, which will mobilize manufacturers that are producing COVID-19-related products and supplies or can pivot to producing COVID-19-related supplies.

“The creation of the portal will help mobilize manufacturers that are producing COVID-19 related products or supplies,” said Wolf. “But it’s also going to allow us to identify companies that can pivot to produce those COVID-19 supplies. I’m not sure any Pennsylvania company can produce the amount of ventilators we need as rapidly as we need, but many can rapidly produce components of ventilators, like plastic piping. We have that capability within Pennsylvania, right here.

“As we work to protect public health and safety, and create a robust supply chain, we know that there are manufacturers across the commonwealth who are willing and able to help. The portal will bring these manufacturers together to work as a team, to help us get the equipment we need.”

By the numbers

In numbers released Monday, there were 1,470 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 12,980 in 65 counties. The department also reported 12 new deaths among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 162.

The statewide total was 4,087 confirmed cases in 59 counties last Monday.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine noted that as of noon Monday, 51% of hospital beds, 40% of ICU beds and nearly 70% of vents were still available.

Hospitals had reported 1,613 patients were hospitalized, 12% of the total case count, and 533 of those patients required ventilators or breathing machines.

There have been 1.5 million N-95 masks, 106,000 gowns, 701,000 procedure hospital masks, 560,000 sets of gloves, 990 goggles, 120,000 face shields distributed to hospitals, EMS, county health departments, county emergency management agencies and long-term care living facilities.

“We actually have over 5,000 ventilators in hospitals in Pennsylvania right now,” Levine said. “As we’ve been having more hospitals collect data transmitted to our system, we have discovered that there are actually more ventilators (available) than we had initially anticipated, so that’s a really good thing.

“We do have a stockpile of ventilators for the Department of Health, and we have purchased ventilators that should be arriving later this month. We’re always looking to make sure that we will have enough ventilators to deal with the surge, specifically in different areas. All of that is part of our calculations and our efforts.”

While unable to track the number of patients who may have had the virus and recovered at home following the CDC’s guidelines, Levine said that the department is working to get data on hospital patients that have been discharged, something it will hopefully have later this week.

“As we prepare for the surge, we all need to continue to do our part,” Wolf said. “Stay in your home, unless you absolutely, positively have to leave. And if you must leave, wear a mask. Wash your hands, stay 6 feet away from others. We all have a part to play; citizens have a part to play in stopping the spread every single day.

“Health care workers who treat patients, they have a part to play, and manufacturers must help us get the equipment we need, they have a big part to play. We’re all going to get through this crisis, but only if we work together. So thank you to every single person in Pennsylvania for your efforts. Let’s keep it up, let’s keep protecting Pennsylvania.”

No decision on April 30

Wolf was noncommittal on a possible extension of the statewide stay-at-home order, which is in effect until April 30, noting that such preventive measures seem to be helping to flatten the curve.

“At this point, it’s too early to tell,” Wolf said. “But to this point, it seems to be making a difference. We have talked about a 15-day lag between the time of when a case appears and the time we actually see some benefits. But we are starting to see that the early exponential increase in cases has given way to a much flatter (curve), so the surge may not be as great as we once anticipated, and that’s our hope.

“The only way we can get to that point, where we are not outstripping the capacity of our health care system, is to stay at home. So if an extension is necessary, we’ll do that, because that’s going to save lives. At this point, I’m not moving it beyond April 30, but that may happen.”

Holiday at home

With Holy Week underway and Easter approaching this Sunday, Levine again made clear the importance of limiting family gatherings during this time.

“We really recommend that people stay at home, and I know this is very challenging over this holiday season, with Passover coming and then Easter and other holidays,” she said. “Families and communities are used to coming together, but at this time, what we really need people to do is stay home.

“If you would usually have your extended family over for a Seder starting on Wednesday and Thursday night, please don’t. Maybe do it virtually. I think that that would be a great idea, to have a virtual Seder. Each family that would might have usually come together, or each part of an extended family, do it all virtually and celebrate the holidays, but do it in a safe way.”