As cases rise, doctors prep for hospitalizations
No change in Allegheny County virus death toll
The recent rise in COVID-19 cases portends an increase in the number of people hospitalized for the highly contagious virus, but doctors say the region is prepared.
“We have plenty of capacity,” Don Whiting, Allegheny Health Network chief medical officer, said Friday. He formed a group representing most hospitals in southwest Pennsylvania to better prepare for the pandemic. “We’re all stocked up.”
AHN, where 19 people with COVID-19 are hospitalized, has a supply of protective gear for doctors and nurses that could last up to three months, Dr. Whiting said, a big difference from just four months ago when the outbreak first emerged in Western Pennsylvania and protective gear was in short supply.
Neither AHN nor UPMC said they are seeing a sudden increase in hospital admissions for the disease, which doctors say generally trails a rise in the number of cases.
“We’re not seeing a surge in hospitalizations among COVID-19 patients, and ventilator use is flat — still a four-fold decrease since the peak in mid-April,” UPMC spokeswoman Allison Hydzik said in an email.
For a fourth straight day, Allegheny County on Friday reported a triple-digit increase in new daily COVID-19 cases, with 177 more infections. Those were among a spike of 667 new diagnoses reported statewide.
The new data came a day after Allegheny County hit a record 233 daily cases — the first time new positive cases had eclipsed the 200 mark. Since the county reported its
first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 14, it has had a total of 3,280 cases.
There was no change in the county’s death toll, which remains at 187. Pennsylvania’s health department is reporting 188 deaths for the county.
The new data came a day after Allegheny County hit a record 233 daily cases — the first time new positive cases had eclipsed the 200 mark. Since the county reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 14, it has had a total of 3,280 cases.
To contain the surge in infections, county health officials on Thursday ordered all bars, restaurants and casinos closed for a week starting Friday.
Eateries are allowed to continue takeout and delivery services during the weeklong shutdown.
Gatherings of more than 25 people during that period also will be prohibited. Health director Dr. Debra Bogen recommended that residents stay at home to prevent transmission of the virus.
While Kennywood and Sandcastle Waterpark cited the new limits in postponing their openings, the rules won’t affect public pools during this steamy holiday weekend, said some pool managers.
The managers of Crawford Swimming Pool in Shaler and Hampton Township Pool, which both opened in June, say that they spoke with health department officials to confirm they could remain open.
Bill Ryder, the aquatics manager for Hampton, said the pool will continue to follow federal and local guidelines to provide a safe environment for patrons.
In another effort to slow down the rise in cases, the state made mask-wearing a requirement any time someone leaves their house, rather than just inside businesses.
Data released by Allegheny County also show that there were five additional hospitalizations, bringing the total number to 406. Newly infected individuals in the county ranged in age from 1 to 90 years, with a median age of 28.
In the 20-county region of Western Pennsylvania, between Erie and Fayette counties, there was an increase of 296 cases. The region’s secondhighest daily increase was in Westmoreland County, which reported 33 new cases.
Pennsylvania saw an increase of 34 deaths, with no new deaths reported in the Pittsburgh region. The statewide death toll is 6,746, according to the latest figures from the state on Friday.
The state saw an increase of 667 new cases of the virus, bringing the total to 88,741.
Here are the total number of positive cases reported Friday in Western Pennsylvania:
• Allegheny: 3,280 (up 177 from Thursday)
• Armstrong: 78 (up 1)
• Beaver: 706 (up 18)
• Butler: 330 (up 11)
• Cambria: 90 (up 5)
• Clarion: 40 (up 4)
• Clearfield: 74 (no change)
• Crawford: 62 (up 3)
• Erie: 642 (up 16)
• Fayette: 132 (up 5)
• Forest: 7 (no change)
• Greene: 41 (no change)
• Indiana: 114 (up 2)
• Jefferson: 25 (up 1)
• Lawrence: 110 (up 3)
• Mercer: 143 (up 1)
• Somerset: 63 (up 1)
• Venango: 23 (no change)
• Washington: 259 (up 15)
• Westmoreland: 744 (up 33) For more information on Allegheny County data, visit the county’s COVID-19 Dashboard. More information on statewide results can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.