The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed Tuesday that there were 9,556 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 509,320.

There are 6,026 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring.

Of that number, 1,249 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

The Wolf administration also began distribution of the 10th allotment of COVID-19 antigen test kits provided by the federal government to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-certified institutions in the remaining 20 counties that have not yet received a shipment. All 67 counties have now received shipment of antigen tests.

“Antigen test cards are a timely, quick and easy-to-use tool for communities to receive rapid COVID-19 testing,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

“These test kits, provided by the federal government and being distributed to areas in need by the Wolf administration, will further help communities struggling with the spread of COVID-19. Antigen tests look for pieces of proteins that make up the SARS-CoV-2 virus and are less sensitive than PCR tests for detecting COVID-19 infections. After this week, all 67 counties will have received antigen test cards.”

Twenty counties received shipment of antigen tests during week 10, including Monroe.

Last week, 99,200 tests were distributed to 59 facilities in Carbon, Clarion, Lycoming, Northampton, Potter and York counties.

In weeks one through eight, 1,427,680 antigen test cards were distributed to CLIA-certified sites in 41 counties including Lehigh and Schuylkill.

The antigen test detects an antigen on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus while the Polymerase chain reaction test detects viral RNA. Both PCR and antigen tests can detect active infection and are considered diagnostic tests.

Antigen tests can be considered for symptomatic individuals (within the first five to seven days of symptom onset) and in asymptomatic individuals in settings where there is a high probability that the individual to be tested is positive, such as when they are a close contact of a case.

The targeted populations will be tested at CLIA-certified sites that directly receive these test kits and can provide timely test results and health care advice during their visit.