by PublicSource Reporters
After a week of record-shattering COVID-19 case numbers, the Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday issued an order, effective Friday, closing bars, restaurants and casinos, and cancelling all activities or events over 25 people for one-week. Food establishments may still offer take-out and delivery services.
Thursday set the record for single-day increases in COVID-19 — shattering past marks with 233 infections. On Friday, the county reported 177 new cases, a figure above previous records, except for the day before. As of Friday, the total number of COVID-19 cases reported since March is 3,280. There have been 187 deaths so far, though no new deaths reported Friday.
The ages for the county’s newest cases range from 1 to 90 years old, with 28 the median age, the county said Friday. There have been 406 past and present hospitalizations, including 5 reported Friday.
Dr. Debra Bogen, the health department director, recommended a voluntary stay-at-home protocol for all county residents, to try and prevent further spread of the virus.
“This is not a decision that I’ve made lightly but I believe it’s necessary based on the new cases in the county and the community spread that is occurring,” Bogen said.
The typical local COVID-infected person during late June was 27 years old, according to a summary of 712 Allegheny County case investigations conducted between June 20 and 30. Cases among the 19-to-24 cohort doubled during that period, according to a late-Thursday news release.
Of the 31 new hospitalizations during that time, seven were people in their 20s and 30s, the county reported Thursday.
The county continues to believe that many of the new cases are related to travel — especially to the Carolinas and Florida — or local nightlife.
A person wearing a face mask exits Giant Eagle in West Mifflin. (Photo by Kimberly Rowen/PublicSource)
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