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Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Death Toll Passes 6,000

Matt Rourke
/
AP

Pennsylvania's COVID-19 death toll passed 6,000 as the state Health Department on Tuesday reported 61 additional deaths linked to the disease.

Of the state's 6,014 deaths, over two-thirds have occurred in nursing homes and other facilities that care for older adults.

State health officials also said Tuesday that 351 more people have tested positive for the new coronavirus. Since early March, infections have been confirmed in more than 76,400 people in Pennsylvania.

The number of infections is thought to be far higher than the confirmed case count because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.

Nearly a half-million people in Pennsylvania have tested negative for the virus.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a couple of weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

In other coronavirus-related developments Tuesday:

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TESTING SITES

Five more coronavirus testing sites are opening in underserved areas of Pennsylvania.

Beginning Wednesday, drive-thru testing sites will be open in Walmart parking lots in Mill Hall, Punxsutawney, Bradford, Cranberry and Warren. They'll join five other testing sites that opened Friday at Walmart stores in Clarion, Erie, Montoursville, Clearfield and Hermitage.

The tests are free. Registration is required a day in advance. Patients can create an account at www.MyQuestCOVIDTestPA.com.

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