Meanwhile, new cases are reported in Allegheny County
Pa. health secretary says more testing is needed as COVID-19 cases continue to rise
Meanwhile, new cases are reported in Allegheny County
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ANNOUNCER: PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4 STARTS NOW. MICHELLE: GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4. TODAY IS TUESDAY. I KNOW IT IS HARD TO KEEP TRACK. AT LEAST, IT IS FOR ME. I’M MICHELLE WRIGHT. APRIL 28. PENNSYLVANIA REPORTED ITS LOWEST DAILY NUMBER OF NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES SINCE MARCH 31. 885 NEW CONFIRMED CASES, BRINGING THE STATE TOTAL TO MORE THAN 42,000. THERE HAVE BEEN NEARLY 1600 DEATHS SO FA BRAND NEW INFORMATION THIS MORNING. THE KANE COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER IN PITTSBURGH’S GLEN HAZEL NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTS ITS TENTH DEATH RELATED TO COVID-19. CURRENTLY 62 POSITIVE CASES AT THAT FACILITY. THE ONLY OTHER KANE COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER TO REPORT A CASE OF THE VIRUS IN A RESIDENT IS THE CENTER IN MCKEESPORT WHICH HAS ONE POSITIVE CASE AND ONE PENDING CASE. ONE STAFF MEMBER AT EACH KANE FACILITY IN SCOTT, MCKEESPORT AND ROSS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 11 MORE CASES OF THE VIRUS REPORTED AT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL. THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INMATE CASES TO 19. 2 STAFFERS HAVE ALSO TESTED POSITIVE THE PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY REPORTS ANOTHER EMPLOYEE TESTED POSITIVE. THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO ELEVEN. NINE OF THOSE CASES ARE FROM WORKERS AT THE WEST MIFFLIN GARAGE THE PORT AUTHORITY IS NOW TAKING EMPLOYEES’ TEMPERATURES BEFORE STARTING THEIR SHIFTS. 93 EMPLOYEES ARE AWAITING TESTING. SECRETARY OF HEALTH IS CLOSELY WATCHING CERTAIN FACTORS THAT PLAY INTO WHEN OUR REGION CAN BEGIN TO LIFT STAY-AT-HOME RESTRICTIONS. SHE SAYS TRANSITIONING FROM RED TO YELLOW IN GOVERNOR WOLF’S THREE PHASE PLAN WILL TAKE MORE TESTING. >> WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND TESTING. WE’RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT OUR ABILITY TO DO CASE INVESTIGATION AND CONTACT TRACING. WE’RE EXPANDING OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THOSE AREAS CAN TAKE CARE OF ANY OUTBREAK OF COVID 19 WE’RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE MODELING DONE BY CARNIE MELLON UNIVERSITY. MICHELLE: IN THE RED PHASE, WE MUST STAY AT HOME. ONLY LIFE-SUSTAINING BUSINESSES CAN OPEN. ONCE WE HIT THE YELLOW PHASE, RETAIL BUSINESSES START OPENING, GATHERINGS OF LESS THAN 25 PEOPLE WILL BE ALLOWED, AND CHILD CARE CENTERS WILL REOPEN IN THE GREEN PHASE, RESTRICTIONS WILL BE LIFTED, FOLLOWING STATE AND CDC GUIDELINES. SOME SIGNS THAT WE’RE MOVING FORWARD. STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS HOSPITALS AND OUTPATIENT CENTERS CAN RESUME ELECTIVE SURGERIES AS LONG AS THEY CAN SHOW THEY WON’T JEOPARDIZE PATIENT SAFETY OR THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO A SUDDEN SPIKE IN COVID-19 PATIENTS. GOLFERS, BOATERS AND CAMPING ENTHUSIASTS. GOVERNOR WOLF PLANS TO OPEN UP CERTAIN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE STATE ON FRIDAY. THAT INCLUDES GOLF COURSES AND MARINAS, GUIDED FISHING TRIPS AND PRIVATELY-OWNED CAMPGROUNDS. THE OWNER OF THE GRAND VIEW GOLF CLUB IN BRADDOCK SAYS HIS MEMBERS ARE ANXIOUS TO GET BACK ON THE FAIRWAY MEMBERS ARE EXCITED, THEY CALL ME NON STOP I’VE PROBABLY — TRYING TO GET ON. I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MAY 1. THEY ARE EXCITED. IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES,, SINCE THE GOVERNOR CAME ON, I GOT 15 TELEPHONE CALLS. MICHELLE: GOVERNOR WOLF SAYS THESE ACTIVITIES ARE A WAY FOR PENNSYLVANIANS TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TODAY SEVERAL GROUPS ARE TEAMING UP WITH THE GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK IN BUTLER COUNTY TO HAND OUT GROCERIES TO PEOPLE IN NEED. THE DRIVE-THRU FOOD DISTRIBUTION WILL BE HELD AT THE BIG BUTLER FAIRGROUNDS FROM 10:00 A.M. TO NOON. THE ORGANIZATIONS PLAN TO HELP 1,500 FAMILIES IN THOSE TWO
Pa. health secretary says more testing is needed as COVID-19 cases continue to rise
Meanwhile, new cases are reported in Allegheny County
Tuesday morning saw several major headlines related to the COVID-19 outbreak, including a 10th death at the Kane Community Living Center in Glen Hazel and an 11th Port Authority of Allegheny County employee testing positive for the virus.Pennsylvania’s Department of Health reported 885 additional confirmed cases on Monday, bringing the state’s total to 42,050. There have been 1,597 deaths reported statewide.A 10th death was reported at Kane-Glen Hazel in Allegheny County. There are currently 62 positive cases among residents at that facility.The Kane center in McKeesport also had a positive case in a resident and a pending case. One staff member at each Kane facility in Scott, McKeesport and Ross have tested positive.Meanwhile, the Port Authority of Allegheny County has reported an 11th employee has tested positive. Nine of the positive cases come from the West Mifflin garage.Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health, said she is closely watching certain factors that play into when the Pittsburgh region can begin to life stay-at-home restrictions.However, she says that transition will take more testing.“We are looking to expand testing,” Levine said. “We’re going to be looking at our ability to do case investigation and contact tracing. We’re expanding our ability to do that.”
PITTSBURGH —
Tuesday morning saw several major headlines related to the COVID-19 outbreak, including a 10th death at the Kane Community Living Center in Glen Hazel and an 11th Port Authority of Allegheny County employee testing positive for the virus.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Health reported 885 additional confirmed cases on Monday, bringing the state’s total to 42,050. There have been 1,597 deaths reported statewide.
A 10th death was reported at Kane-Glen Hazel in Allegheny County. There are currently 62 positive cases among residents at that facility.
The Kane center in McKeesport also had a positive case in a resident and a pending case. One staff member at each Kane facility in Scott, McKeesport and Ross have tested positive.
Meanwhile, the Port Authority of Allegheny County has reported an 11th employee has tested positive. Nine of the positive cases come from the West Mifflin garage.
Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health, said she is closely watching certain factors that play into when the Pittsburgh region can begin to life stay-at-home restrictions.
However, she says that transition will take more testing.
“We are looking to expand testing,” Levine said. “We’re going to be looking at our ability to do case investigation and contact tracing. We’re expanding our ability to do that.”
