by PublicSource Reporters
COVID-19 infections in Allegheny County soared to 331 Tuesday, the highest single-day case count since the virus was first reported in the county in March. The latest number of cases was reported out of 4,536 test results.
The Allegheny County Health Department [ACHD] also reported one new COVID-related fatality and seven additional hospitalizations.
Tuesday’s announcement brings the case county tally to 5,364. To date, there have been 199 deaths and 477 past and present hospitalizations.
Health officials warned on Monday that a surge in testing has resulted in a lag in test reporting.
Pennsylvania reported 328 new infections and seven additional fatalities Monday, bringing the statewide case count to 95,742 and 6,911 deaths. Personal care and nursing home residents continue to bear the brunt of the state’s COVID-related fatalities, with residents accounting for 68% of all deaths.
With COVID cases roaring back in parts of the state, Health Department Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine provided an update Monday on a number of related topics.
Among the topics Levine addressed:
- Case numbers are expected to rise later in the week when commercial labs report their test results, something Levine said makes the state’s figures look “jerky.” In some instances, the reporting lag has been seven days or more.
- Levine said she does not anticipate a return to the more restrictive yellow and red phases of the governor’s reopening plan and instead praised Allegheny County’s targeted approach.
- Pennsylvania now has more than 600 contact tracers who are disease detectives that track down everyone in contact with an infected patient.
- The state’s positivity rate, which is the percentage of positive tests, is about 4.4%. The trigger for concern is 5%.
- Levine’s face mask order extends to athletics, meaning athletes who cannot socially distance in practice or competition should wear face masks.
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Allegheny County reports 331 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day increase
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