State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said in a press event last week that hospitals are significantly challenged by the surge in positive cases, even as vaccines are being rolled out and distribution among healthcare professionals is ongoing.

She said experience and improved treatments have improved patient recovery rates to 64 percent and rising, but with over 15,000 dead in Pennsylvania, relaxing mitigation efforts is not an option.

Additionally, deals with Walgreens and CVS to direct vaccines to nursing home facilities and other communal living places are organized by the federal government through Operation Warp Speed. Levine said the state has no say in the production of the vaccines or distribution through federal programs, but plans for working in concert with local pharmacies are already being developed and will be important in upcoming distribution phases, as is planning for mass vaccination sites. “This vaccine process will take some time,” she said, but added in a briefing Monday morning that 135,044 Pennsylvanians had been vaccinated.

“I’m very hopeful that everyone in Pennsylvania who wants a vaccine will get one,” she said.

Additionally on Monday, Governor Tom Wolf lifted the severe holiday restrictions on business operations and social gatherings, but there is still a stay-at-home order statewide, as well as masking orders to mitigate virus spread.

As of Monday, the state has 595,596 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 16,361 deaths. Lehigh County has 21,370 confirmed and 513 deaths; Northampton County has 17,430 confirmed and 439 deaths; the city of Bethlehem has 4,233 confirmed and 90 deaths.