Pennsylvania announces new mask mandate for businesses; COVID-19 deaths cluster in Pennsylvania’s long-term care facilities

Employees and customers are now required to wear masks.

by PublicSource Reporters

Allegheny County reported 21 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, April 16, a 2.2% increase from Wednesday, bringing the total known caseload to 925. The county also reported 12 deaths and 16 additional hospitalizations.

Overall, Allegheny County has recorded 162 total COVID-19 hospitalizations, including patients who have been discharged. The death toll is 38.

Statewide, Pennsylvania has issued new mandates on the wearing of masks inside businesses, even as Republican lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf grapple over the authority to close businesses.

In recent days, Allegheny County has seen a drop in its daily increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases, falling below the growth rate of Pennsylvania overall. Dr. Debra Bogen, director of the Allegheny County Health Department, stressed that the county is by no means out of danger.

“We need to increase testing to know exactly where we are,” Bogen said at a Wednesday press conference. “We are not out of the woods. I would like to say the curve has been bent, but I don’t want people to take that to mean they should go out and change what they’ve been doing. We need more testing, more personal protective equipment, and a plan for careful re-opening. It’s too soon to move on.”

Pennsylvania on Thursday reported 1,245 new COVID-19 cases, a 4.7% increase since Wednesday, along with 60 new deaths. The state’s caseload stands at 27,735 and its death toll is 707.

People waiting in traffic for their rations of donated food from the Great Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne on April 7. Wait times were around 2 hours while members of the Pennsylvania National Guard assisted food pantry staff. (Photo by Nick Childers/PublicSource)

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Pennsylvania announces new mask mandate for businesses; COVID-19 deaths cluster in Pennsylvania’s long-term care facilities

 

 

 

 

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