State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine answered media questions in a videoconference last week, explaining what she feels will be helpful and why this winter surge will be different from the one in spring.

Levine was adamant that rumors that, despite increasing numbers of cases, the virus has somehow decreased in severity are untrue.

She said medical staff are now highly experienced in dealing with this virus, and new therapeutics are available, such as remdesivir, dexamethasone, monoclonal antibodies and ongoing studies in convalescent plasma. Pennsylvania is far better stocked with PPE today, and whereas the national average for the most severe COVID-19 victims requiring ventilators is 12 percent, in Pa. they are only 9 percent. This is down from 30 percent in the spring.

The virus isn’t less severe, Levine said; care has gotten much better in Pa. She said, “You want to see an increase? Go to Wisconsin. Well, don’t go to Wisconsin, we don’t want you to travel.”

She also said part of fighting further outbreaks is gathering data. Efforts with contact tracing have been hindered by a lack of cooperation with contact tracers. “Overall we are continuing to be challenged in terms of people answering the phone and people being forthcoming in where they are, where they have been and who their contacts are. She also asks for more people to download the COVID Alert PA application on their mobile phones.

In both doing your part in regular mitigation efforts such as wearing a mask and distancing and responding to requests for information from the state, Levine asks, “Please answer the call.”

When asked about privacy concerns, she said the application doesn’t use tracking technology, but Bluetooth technology the way you connect to your headphones in your car. “We are not tracking your whereabouts. We are looking for a million people do download the app. which will tell them automatically if they’ve been in contact with someone who has tested positive.”

As of Monday, the state has 248,981 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 9,312 deaths. Lehigh County has 8,637 confirmed and 374 deaths; Northampton County has 6,842 confirmed and 322 deaths; the city of Bethlehem has 2,161 confirmed and 84 deaths.