The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting six more deaths among positive COVID-19 cases, and 531 more positive cases in the state as of Friday, March 27, bringing the total number of deaths to 22.

Total number of cases in Pennsylvania is 2,218.

Four deaths have been reported in Delaware County, three deaths have been reported in Montgomery and Northampton counties, two deaths have been reported in Allegheny, Lackawana , Monroe and Philadelphia, Lehigh and Luzerne counties, and one death has been reported in in Butler County.

Philadelphia County leads with the most cases, at 530; followed by Montgomery County, at 374; and Delaware County at 190 cases.

There are 21,016 patients who have tested negative for coronavirus in the state.

In related state news:

Primary elections

PA Gov. Tom Wolf has signed Senate Bill 422, which reschedules the 2020 primary election from April 28 to June 2.

The bill allows counties to begin processing and tabulating mail ballots beginning at 7 a.m. on election day, rather than after the polls close at 8 p.m.

The measure also allows counties to temporarily consolidate polling places without
court approval and eases other rules regarding location and staffing of polling places for the primary to respond to county concerns about a potential shortage of poll workers and appropriate polling place locations.

More information can be found here.

Childcare

There’s a new tool on the Department of Human Services website that connects essential workers with child-care providers that have been granted a waiver by the department’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to continue serving the families of essential personnel during the COVID-19 emergency.

More information can be found here.

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