Allegheny COVID numbers drop

The Allegheny County Health Department reported Thursday that COVID-19 casecounts were down to 666 for the week of Nov. 10-16, from 935 the previous week. Hospitalizations were at 85, down from 93, and the number of reported deaths was12, down from last week’s 18.

All the numbers are based on what is reported each week, and may reflect a lag in reporting.

Despite the encouraging trend, experts still encourage patients to keep getting vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week reported that COVID-19 hospitalizations were rising among babies under 6 months old, who are too young to be vaccinated. The CDC is encouraging pregnant people to receive the new bivalent COVID-19 vaccines that protect against two highly infectiousomicron strains, BA.4 and BA.5.

“We know that those antibodies will transfer to the baby,” CDC director Rochelle Walensky said. “It’ll actually help protect the infant.”

Dr. Christina Megli, an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics,

Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, was at a vaccination clinic held at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital last week to protect pregnant patients against the flu and COVID-19.

“A baby can get COVID or the flu from anyone. A grandparent or family member visiting, that’s how a lot of babies contract COVID or the flu,” Dr. Megli said.

The county Health Department has information on its website about scheduling a shot through its Downtown immunization clinic or call 412-578-8062.