County reports 1,197 new cases; state reports 12,844
Allegheny County reported 1,197 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, breaking the previous record of 1,028 new cases reported Thursday.
The recent caseloads showed a sharp increase in local infections and were met with a plea from Dr. Debra Bogen, director of the county health department, to cancel social activities.
“It pains me to report these numbers,” Bogen said in a Thursday statement. “I had hoped we’d never see this level of community spread. This heartbreaking milestone must move our community into action. I implore [you to] cancel parties, weddings, gatherings, events and stay home whenever possible.”
Allegheny County reported five additional deaths Saturday. Throughout the pandemic, the county has seen 32,651 COVID-19 cases, 2,211 hospitalizations and 575 deaths.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported its highest daily increase, with 12,844 new COVID-19 cases. Of the 5,230 patients who are in the hospital, 1,065 are in intensive care.
The state reported 149 new deaths. Since the pandemic began, Pennsylvania has seen 411,484 total cases and 11,262 deaths.
In a virtual media briefing on Thursday, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine outlined the growing pressure being placed on hospitals and care facilities across the state as a result of rising COVID-19 cases.
Across the state, over 5,000 people are currently hospitalized and more than 1,000 are in intensive care units [ICU]. Pennsylvania’s southwestern region is on the brink of reaching the staffing shortage trigger — one of three metrics Levine announced in an order last week in considering if elective procedures should be halted. That means a third or more of the hospitals in the region are expected to meet staffing capacity within the next week.
On Forbes Avenue in Oakland, a person wearing a face mask exits a Port Authority bus adorned with the message ‘Stay Home, Save Lives’. (Photo by Kimberly Rowen/PublicSource)
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Allegheny County and Pennsylvania’s new COVID-19 cases again break records
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