Fall is here and with it has come a resurgence in positive COVID-19 cases, Gov. Tom Wolf said during a news conference Monday afternoon.

Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine took to the podium shortly after the state announced 1,103 new cases on Monday, the 14th straight day of more than 1,000 new cases.

“Whether it is the colder weather or whatever the factors may be, our average case counts are creeping up,” Wolf said. “We always have to take COVID-19 seriously, but now is really the time to double down and keep ourselves and the people around us safe.”

Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are also on the rise, Wolf and Levine said, going from 422 on Sept. 22 to 841 on Monday.

“We expect those numbers to increase as hospitalizations normally rise a few weeks after an increase in case,” Levine said. “That being said, we are well below what we saw in spring at the peak when more than 3,000 were hospitalized. Our health care systems are also much better prepared to address the virus than they were in the spring.”

The statewide total of COVID-19 cases is now 183,315.

Locally, Carbon County is reporting 547 cases, an increase of nine new cases. Deaths attributed to COVID-19 remain at 29. Lehigh County is reporting 6,149 cases, an increase of 40. One more death was reported for a total of 362. Monroe County has 15 new cases, bringing the total to 1,938, with 134 deaths. Northampton County has 5,062 cases, an increase of 40 cases. There are 309 deaths. Schuylkill County has 1,632 cases, an increase of 87. Two more deaths have been reported for a total of 73.

“Every part of the state has been impacted and it really could be a number of factors,” Levine said. “In some regions, a college spike may have accounted for the increases, while in others it may have been an outbreak at a long-term care facility or a correctional facility.”

The statewide percent-positivity went up to 4.3% from 3.9% last week.

“COVID is tough, but together, Pennsylvanians are tougher,” Gov. Wolf said. “The last seven and a half months have shown us that when we unite, we can defeat this virus.”

For the week ending Oct. 15, Schuylkill County was one of 11 counties listed as having substantial community transmission. Carbon, Monroe, Lehigh and Northampton remained at the moderate level.

With the holidays approaching, Levine cautioned, even small gatherings with friends and families could provide the virus an opportunity to spread.

“The virus doesn’t care if it’s just your friends and family,” Levine said. “There could be someone who is asymptomatic and that is all it takes for the virus to spread.”

From Oct. 4-10, Levine said, 64 percent of people contacted for a case investigation did not answer questions about whether they attended a large gathering or a restaurant within 14 days of testing positive.

“It is critical for us to get that information and for people to fully participate in our case investigation process,” she said.

Also Monday, the Department of Health updated its travel recommendations, originally announced on July 2, to remove Texas from the list of states recommended for domestic travelers returning from to quarantine for 14 days upon return to Pennsylvania. Indiana remains on Pennsylvania’s quarantine list and Levine was asked Monday how Penn State’s visit to the Hoosier state for its Big 10 football opener Saturday would be handled.

“I know they have more frequent testing procedures,” Levine said of the Penn State football program, “but I think the decision by the Big 10 to play this season is going to be a big challenge.”