2nd Monroe virus case reported Pa. total Thursday morning is 16 cases

A second person from Monroe County has been listed as presumptive positive for COVID-19.

The adult from Monroe brings the statewide total to 16 cases; 14 of the cases are presumptive positive and two cases, the Delaware County and Wayne County cases, have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania department of health, also mentioned department awareness of an adult from another state who tested presumptive positive and is hospitalized in Montgomery County. This person is not a Pennsylvania resident and so is not counted in the state’s totals.

As of 11 a.m., there were 196 Pennsylvanians identified for testing; 100 of those have tested negative for COVID-19; 19 have tested presumptive positive; two have been confirmed positive by the CDC; and 75 tests are pending.

“While we anticipate that there will be more Pennsylvanians with COVID-19 in the coming days and weeks, there are several steps everyone can take to keep themselves healthy and prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Levine said. In addition to proper hand-washing, people should be aware of symptoms such as coughing and fever.

Cancellations

Area organizations are responding with cancellations.

Many area colleges and universities have closed for several weeks because of the virus, among them Kutztown University and East Stroudsburg University, which have extended spring break. Muhlenberg and some others are planning online classes. Lehigh Carbon Community College has canceled many events, but not classes at this time. The administration said it will continue to assess the situation.

The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency has decided to postpone this year’s Irish Fest which was scheduled for this upcoming weekend.

Scranton has postponed its St. Patrick’s Day parade this weekend and Bethlehem’s parade was canceled.

“Our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our community and those who visit Jim Thorpe,” said James Dougher, President of the JTTA.

“While there are no known cases of the coronavirus in Carbon County to date, we have an obligation to help prevent the virus from spreading and we want to avoid exposing our community and guests to any unnecessary risk. This includes, unfortunately, limiting large social gatherings that create an environment where the virus is known to spread.”

The Pocono Chamber of Commerce issued a statement Wednesday, “We have been in contact with the venues across our region that will host our upcoming events and we have received assurance that they are increasing the cleaning and disinfecting of their facilities, and that hand washing stations are ample and available for our guests.”

Store runs continue

The toilet paper shelves were totally barren at the Lehighton Walmart Thursday morning, as were many of the disinfectant products.

It was much the same on Wednesday afternoon, with the exception of a lone roll of paper. Someone had written, “Last roll. $500.00.”

Maria Zabala of Albrightsville was among the shoppers at the store this morning.

“I was going to buy an antibacterial body wash,” Zabala said. “All those antibacterial (products) are all gone.”

Zabala said it would be wise of people to wash their hands with soap and water.

“I don’t think any antibacterial will save you,” she said. “Avoid crowded areas; you just don’t know who has it. The risk is there.”

Zabala added, “everybody is scared” of the virus, and for good reason.

I think that’s what scares people,” she said. “There’s really no treatment.”

Dee Choate of Lehighton said she came out to the store for a prescription.

Choate said it’s only natural for people to fear the virus.

“Everybody should,” Choate said. “Absolutely.”