Officials: Continue safety in green phase

As Allegheny County prepares to move into the green phase, repeated reminders for people to continue practicing precautions against COVID-19 were given in video conferences Wednesday by state and county officials.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, county Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen and state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine all heavily emphasized the need for people to continue to wear masks, work from home if available and physically distance themselves from others. With those continued practices, Dr. Bogen said she is confident Allegheny County is ready to move into the green phase Friday based on the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

“In all respects we are doing well,” Dr. Bogen said.

Most of southwestern Pennsylvania is also moving into green Friday.

Although many of the large police brutality protests happening across the state go against social gathering restrictions put in place, Mr. Fitzgerald acknowledged “a vast majority” of people seen protesting were wearing masks. This included Gov. Tom Wolf as he participated in the March Against Injustice and Gun Violence in Harrisburg on Wednesday.

However, if someone feels they have been exposed to COVID-19 while at one of these large gatherings, Dr. Bogen recommends waiting three to five days before getting tested.

“We have a lot of testing capacity in the region,” she said. “If you’re concerned you can get one.”

The state has plans to open an additional 19 testing facilities across north-central and northwestern Pennsylvania. These free testing sites will be in a partnership with Walmart and Quest Diagnostics.

Five of the sites will open Friday. People interested in testing must schedule at least one day in advance through the Quest Diagnostics website.

Dr. Levine added that should a second wave happen, Pennsylvania will be prepared for it and will adapt to whatever level of testing may be available at that time.

The state Department of Health reported Wednesday there were 75 new COVID-19 deaths reported in the state and 511 new cases.

The new cases mean Pennsylvania has had 24 straight days in which it has reported less than 1,000 daily cases. The state has had 73,405 positive cases.

The new deaths increase the statewide total to 5,742.

Allegheny County reported no new deaths from COVID-19 and said its total is 152 — 141 are confirmed and 11 are probable. The state, however, said Allegheny County had one new death and listed its total at 166.

No other deaths were reported in Western Pennsylvania.

Allegheny County also reported 24 new cases on Wednesday. Since the county’s first case was reported on March 14, it has had 1,952 total cases — 1,829 are confirmed and 123 are probable.

Here are the total number of positive cases reported Wednesday by the state in Western Pennsylvania:

• Allegheny: 1,952 (up 24 from Tuesday)

• Armstrong: 64 (up 2)

• Beaver: 594 (up 3)

• Butler: 235 (up 5)

• Cambria: 59 (up 1)

• Clarion: 27 (no change)

• Clearfield: 42 (no change)

• Crawford: 29 (no change)

• Erie: 314 (up 7)

• Fayette: 95 (no change)

• Forest: 7 (no change)

• Greene: 27 (no change)

• Indiana: 91 (no change)

• Jefferson: 14 (up 2)

• Lawrence: 83 (up 2)

• Mercer: 107 (no change)

• Somerset: 38 (no change)

• Venango: 9 (no change)

• Washington: 140 (no change)

• Westmoreland: 453 (up 2)