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COVID case and hospitalization rates continue long plateau in Philly region

COVID cases and hospitalizations remained at levels similar to those seen over the past two months in the week including Thanksgiving.

Patricia Washington, left, receives a COVID Booster shot, from DeWanda Taylor, center, Certified Medical Assistant, from Miriam Medical Clinics, MZT (Which signifies the collaboration between Miriam Medical Clinics, Zion Baptist Church, and Temple University, operating out of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, the Center for Urban Bioethics), at Butler Triangle, Broad and Germantown Ave, in Philadelphia, Monday, August 1, 2022. This mobile clinic, intended to boost COVID vaccinations, has become a connection point to health care for people.
Patricia Washington, left, receives a COVID Booster shot, from DeWanda Taylor, center, Certified Medical Assistant, from Miriam Medical Clinics, MZT (Which signifies the collaboration between Miriam Medical Clinics, Zion Baptist Church, and Temple University, operating out of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, the Center for Urban Bioethics), at Butler Triangle, Broad and Germantown Ave, in Philadelphia, Monday, August 1, 2022. This mobile clinic, intended to boost COVID vaccinations, has become a connection point to health care for people.Read moreJESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations ticked slightly upward in the region over the last week but remain within the range seen for more than two months.

Holiday gatherings were a prelude to spikes in COVID cases for the last two years, as family get-togethers contributed to the spread of infections. It remains to be seen whether that will hold true after this Thanksgiving. Health experts have said widespread vaccination and prior infections likely have provided the Philadelphia region and the country with stronger immunity. A significant winter surge is thought to be less likely this year.

Case rates in Philadelphia and New Jersey showed increases compared with counts two weeks ago. Pennsylvania’s case counts are still lower than they were two weeks ago, but the state has seen an increase in cases since last week.

» READ MORE: Visit our COVID tracker to see more data

Still, officially recorded case data are a less reliable indicator of how widely COVID is spreading than in past years, because so many people now use home testing kits, which are not reported to public health entities, or aren’t testing at all.

Here’s a look at this week’s COVID numbers:

Pa. COVID cases and transmission

Daily average cases: 1,440

Case rate rise/fall over 14 days: -16%

Daily average hospitalizations: 1,653

Hospitalizations rate rise/fall over 14 days: -3%

Total deaths: 48,387

Philly COVID cases and transmission

Daily average cases: 173

Case rate rise/fall over 14 days: +9%

Daily average hospitalizations: 351

Hospitalizations rate rise/fall over 14 days: -7%

Total deaths: 5,384 (as of Nov. 28)

N.J. COVID cases and transmission

Daily average cases: 1,651

Case rate rise/fall over 14 days: +7%

Daily average hospitalizations: 1,087

Hospitalizations rate rise/fall over 14 days: -1%

Total deaths: 35,145

Data Sources: New York Times COVID data tracker; New Jersey and Pennsylvania Departments of Health. Numbers are updated as of Wednesday, Nov. 30.