PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — State health officials say Pennsylvania’s number of deaths and hospitalizations connected to COVID-19 is the highest since the pandemic began. But they say major decisions, like in-person or virtual schooling, will remain in local hands.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said November to February looks like it will be “the peak time in terms of transmission of COVID-19.”
More than 4,000 Pennsylvanians are hospitalized, she said, with more than 900 in the ICU. But she said there are no plans to revisit the color coded shutdown orders from the spring.
“The decision on instructional models in schools is still a local one,” she added.
Schools in counties that are in the Department of Health’s “substantial” category for more than two weeks have to sign a form saying they are taking all the proper precautions, such as face coverings.
Related
According to state data, all counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania qualify as “substantial” with an average of 100 new cases per day and a positivity rate over 10%.
If a district signs the form but doesn’t stick to the rules, they’ll be required to move to remote learning and cancel all extracurriculars and school sports.
Levine said they’re also lowering the age for people to sign up for the PA Covid Alert phone app from 18 to 13 with parental approval.