PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf sad there could be consequences if people don't take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Wolf points out the total number of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania has doubled from 200,000 a month and a half ago to more than 400,000 now.
"If we don't slow the spread of this dangerous virus now, if we don't do this, the reality is COVID-19 will overwhelm our hospitals, will overwhelm our healthcare systems," he said.
Without giving specifics, the governor said they are considering new measures that could be announced in the coming days if new cases continue to climb. He said they won't be as restrictive as orders earlier this year.
They've been climbing significantly for weeks as the governor and Health Secretary Rachel Levine continue to urge Pennsylvanians to recognize we're all in this together, and to wear masks while staying at least 6 feet away from people.
Wolf believes that do-the-right-thing message can still get through.
"It's not banging our head against the wall, I think it's recognizing that maybe the understanding of this doesn't occur all at once in everybody, we have to keep preaching this gospel," Wolf said.
The positivity rate — the percentage of tests coming back positive — is over 14% for the state.
Every county is now over the goal of 5%, while nine counties, mainly in central and northern Pennsylvania, are over 20%.
