Pennsylvania reported an additional 360 deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday as health officials announced they will now classify “probable” virus deaths as well as confirmed deaths.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Tuesday that the total number of deaths from coronavirus in Pennsylvania is now 1,564.

That total includes 300 probable deaths, which the department began reporting this weekend.

Probable deaths are people whose death certificate lists COVID-19 as a cause, or a contributing cause, but who did not have a positive test for the virus. Confirmed deaths are people who tested positive while they were still alive.

“We’re reporting more deaths, but it’s not like those deaths happened in the last 24 hours. This is a collection of reports over the last number of weeks. It’s probably better to say we’re reconciling our data,” said Secretary of Health Rachel Levine.

Carbon and Schuylkill each added two deaths on Tuesday, while the Lehigh Valley saw a larger increase in its death total.

Carbon County has added six confirmed cases, bringing the total to 150. Deaths have increased by two for a total of 11.

Lehigh County has 2,295 cases, an increase of 50 from Monday. Deaths recorded from coronavirus have increased from 33 to 49.

Monroe County has 20 new cases for a total of 995, but deaths jumped to 46 from 37.

Northampton has 75 new cases for a total of 1,544. Deaths have increased from 36 to 43.

Schuylkill saw 10 new cases for a total of 277. Two more deaths are recorded, for a total of 7.

Levine said it is not unusual for infectious disease deaths to be reported over time. The difference with COVID-19 is that the public is paying much closer attention to death totals. She said the department’s epidemiologists work like detectives, investigating deaths which could be linked to the virus.

“This is the way it’s usually reported, according to (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines, but obviously we’re paying much more attention now,” she said.

Levine said the increase in probable deaths doesn’t have a big effect on their strategy for dealing with the virus. One-day increases in the death total are less important than the overall trends when it comes to looking at how the virus is spreading, she said.

“We are basing decisions on the best way to protect public health, not on a single day’s increase or change, but on trends over time,” she said.

The department is now sharing animated graphics which show how the number of cases and deaths have increased in different counties and statewide. The graphics are available at health.pa.gov. Levine said the state has done a good job of expanding testing for the virus, but there is still work to be done.

“We’d like more testing so we can get more information about how many patients have COVID- 19,” Levine said.

The state is still recommending that tests be limited to people who have symptoms of the virus.

Some Rite-Aid locations are now offering tests with a doctor’s order. And the testing site at Mohegan Sun Arena near Wilkes-Barre is up and running.

The department has responded to concerns that the only way to sign up for the testing site was online. Levine said more information is coming later this week, but in the meantime it is OK for a family member to register for someone who doesn’t have internet access.

Levine was asked if the department could have done more when the virus first arrived in Pennsylvania to protect people in long-term care living facilities like nursing homes.

Levine said those facilities have been prioritized in terms of receiving personal protective equipment. They also continue to do infectious disease consultations with those facilities.

“Whatever it takes to do the best we can to protect those vulnerable seniors and staff in those settings,” she said.

Levine was asked about UPMC Health Network’s plans to resume elective surgeries. She said there is a balance between providing necessary care versus the risk of putting someone in a hospital where they could potentially contract COVID-19. She said it’s also important to conserve medical resources including ICU beds, ventilators and protective equipment to make sure there is enough to treat COVID patients.

“We have to prioritize the global pandemic of COVID-19, but the other part is true too, and we’ll work with health systems on when more urgent procedures can go forward,” she said.