Pa., U.S. report significantly lower flu numbers

There has been a positive side effect of the pandemic, the state Department of Health announced Thursday: low seasonal flu activity in the state and across the country.

Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said flu numbers dropped significantly during the 2020-21 season, largely due to measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“Last season was higher than usual with more than 11,000 cases of flu this time of year,” she said in a statement. “That is a stark difference from where we are in 2021; below 3,000 cases. We can attribute the low flu activity in part to COVID-19 mitigation efforts that are also effective in preventing the flu, since the two infectious diseases spread the same way.”

Ms. Beam also attributed the slower flu season to a record number of flu vaccinations this season. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported nationwide flu vaccine distribution reached 193.7 million this year, surpassing the 174.5 doses distributed in the 2019-2020 season.

“It is great that flu activity is so low, but this is not the time to let down our guard, rather it is a testimony to the mitigation efforts in place to slow the spread of infectious diseases,” wrote Ray Barishansky,

the state’s deputy secretary of health preparedness and community protection.

As of Feb. 27, there were just 14 flu-associated deaths statewide this year, the Department of Health said. The previous year saw 198 flurelated deaths in the commonwealth.

The numbers are a distinct contrast from the COVID-19 pandemic — whose deadliness is sometimes erroneously compared to the flu — with the commonwealth seeing

24,219 Pennsylvanians dead from the novel coronavirus since March 2020.

That number comes after Pennsylvania on Thursday reported an additional 50 deaths from COVID-19 and an uptick of 3,028 cases of the virus, bringing the case total to 941,439.

There have been more than 2.6 million doses of the COVID vaccine administered in the state since the rollout began in December. More than 121,000 of those vaccinations have occurred in Allegheny County, the state reported.

Because of the large response to this week’s vaccination clinic at Heinz Field, Giant Eagle Pharmacy extended the event to March 8 and 9. Registration for those two days will open Friday afternoon on the Giant Eagle website.

More than 4,000 people made appointments for this week’s clinic, a partnership between the grocery chain and the Steelers. Giant Eagle also expects another shipment of vaccine that would eventually open appointments for March 10.

Another mass vaccination site set up by Allegheny Health Network and Dick’s Sporting Goods will vaccinate over 5,000 people Friday at the retail company’s corporate office in Coraopolis. Appointments for that clinic have already been filled.

Meanwhile, Allegheny County saw an increase of 276 cases of the virus on Thursday and confirmed two more deaths from COVID-19. Among the new cases were 194 confirmed positives and 82 probable ones. Many of the tests were from the past week, but five date back further; the oldest test is from Dec. 27, the county said.

Newly infected people ranged in age from 7 months to 95 years, with a median age of 35, the county Health Department reported.

The two newly confirmed deaths were people in their 80s and 90s. Both were in long-term care facilities, the county said.

Allegheny County residents have seen 77,515 cases of COVID- 19 since last March, resulting in 5,137 hospitalizations and 1,688 deaths to date.

More information on COVID-19, the flu and vaccines can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website and the Allegheny County COVID-19 dashboard.