The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed Monday that there were 7,887 new cases, in addition to 7,213 new cases reported Sunday, for a two-day total of 15,100 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 563,589.

There are 6,074 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,230 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 trend in the 14-day moving average of number of hospitalized patients per day has increased by nearly 5,400 since the end of September. Statewide percent positivity for the week of Decc. 11 – Dec. 17 stood at 15.8%.

Approximately 17,779 of our total cases are among health care workers.

Monday, the DOH unveiled a new digital case investigation tool called the Connect & Protect Form for Pennsylvanians ages 19-64 who reside in a county without its own county or municipal health department.

“Launching this tool allows public health professionals to connect with more Pennsylvanians in record time to learn where people went and who they were in close contact with while infectious in order to further protect loved ones and neighbors across the commonwealth,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

“We are eager to continue adding tools to our toolbox to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Residents that are diagnosed with COVID-19 will still receive a call from a public health professional, but if they are between 19 and 64, they will be asked to provide their email address to receive the Connect & Protect Form to complete as soon as possible.”

According to a press release, across the commonwealth, there are 230 case investigators who reach out to incoming cases who are younger than 19 and older than 64 to find out where they went and who they came in contact with in order to prevent outbreaks while infectious. This case investigation typically takes between 30-60 minutes to complete.

With the addition of the digital case investigation through the Connect & Protect Form, Pennsylvanians who are age 19-64, and diagnosed with COVID-19, will now receive a call from a contact tracer to collect their email address in order to provide them the Connect & Protect Form to complete.

Once the digital case investigation is complete through the Connect & Protect Form, contact tracers will also begin to reach out to the close contacts identified and successfully monitor those Pennsylvanians to ensure they have supports in place if they later develop symptoms. All information collected in this form will be protected the same way the information provided to our case investigators is protected.

Local numbers

Carbon County reported 2,273 cases, an increase of 102 since Sunday. Two additional deaths have been reported for a total of 87.

Lehigh County reported 17,668 an increase of 668. One more death was reported for a total of 444.

Luzerne County has 15,340 cases, an uptick of 357. The county reported six more deaths, bringing the total to 406.

Monroe reported 5,293, an increase of 168. Deaths are now at 186, as one more was reported Monday.

Northampton County reported 14,443 cases, 588 more than last reported. There are 384 deaths after three more were reported Monday.

Schuylkill reported 6,577, 264 more than last reported. Two more deaths were reported for a running total of 225.