Coronavirus category, Page 105
U.S. colleges mull new virus protocols for students’ return
COLCHESTER, Vt. — St. Michael’s College managed to keep coronavirus cases at bay for almost two months this fall with students tested upon arrival and once every three weeks. But in mid-October, cases at the small Vermont school started to climb. The outbreak was linked to an ice rink more...
AstraZeneca likely to run fresh global vaccine trial, CEO says
AstraZeneca Plc. is likely to conduct an additional global trial to assess the efficacy of its covid-19 vaccine, according to the company’s chief executive officer, after current studies raised questions over its level of protection. The new trial would be run instead of adding an arm to an ongoing U.S....
As covid cases rise, overwhelmed case investigators and contact tracers forced to adaptVideo
The rapid influx of new covid-19 cases in Allegheny County has resulted in changes to the health department’s case investigation procedure, as overwhelmed case investigators and contact tracers work to keep up with the pace of the virus. “They haven’t been able to reach every case, and they’re spending less...
Wiping down groceries? Experts say keep risk in perspective
NEW YORK — Cleaning wipes are harder to find on store shelves, and businesses are reassuring customers with stepped up sanitation measures. In New York, the subway system is shut down nightly for disinfecting. To avoid any traces of the coronavirus that might be lurking on surfaces, Americans have been...
Tweet on spare change generates big money for virus aid
SALT LAKE CITY — Andy Larsen is a sports writer, but with so many games scratched during the pandemic he has spent a lot of time digging into coronavirus data and its sobering implications. Then on Monday, while he was sorting his spare change — some from a childhood piggy...
Pennsylvania surpasses 10,000 covid-related deaths
With 144 new covid-related deaths added Wednesday, Pennsylvania became the eighth state to reach 10,000 fatalities related to the coronavirus. The additions bring the death toll to 10,095, according to the Department of Health. Of the deaths reported Wednesday, 142 are from November and two are from October. Officials report...
Westmoreland sets new record for daily covid cases
With a total of 273 new coronavirus cases added Wednesday, Westmoreland County set a new daily record. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported the new cases included 206 that were confirmed with PCR tests and 67 were listed as probable. In the past 14 days, the county has seen more...
Rite Aid expands covid-19 testing program
WILKES-BARRE — Asymptomatic testing will now be available for individuals 13 and older at existing Rite Aid testing sites, the company announced Tuesday. To continue to provide its customers with an essential service during the pandemic, Rite Aid is updating its covid-19 testing program through its partnership with the U.S....
EU says first virus vaccinations possible by Christmas
BRUSSELS — Vaccinations against the coronavirus could start in the 27 European Union nations by Christmas and member countries must urgently prepare their logistical chains to cope with the rollout of hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccines, according to a top EU official. Hailing the likelihood that “there’s...
Allegheny County adds 555 new covid cases, 12 deaths
Allegheny County added 555 new cases of covid-19 Wednesday, according to the Health Department. The new cases include 480 cases confirmed from 2,420 new PCR tests conducted from Nov. 4-24; 10 of the tests are more than a week old. There were 75 cases listed as probable. Health officials define...
Congress braces for Joe Biden’s national coronavirus strategy
WASHINGTON — Congress is bracing for President-elect Joe Biden to move beyond the Trump administration’s state-by-state approach to the COVID-19 crisis and build out a national strategy to fight the pandemic and distribute the eventual vaccine. The incoming administration’s approach reflects Democrats’ belief that a more comprehensive plan, some of...
Westmoreland doles out almost $800K in federal money to municipalitiesVideo
Forty municipalities in Westmoreland County are splitting about $780,000 in federal grant funds to offset expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic. But, for many, the money won’t cover every cost or alleviate all concerns about the pandemic’s impact on future revenue. In Hempfield, revenues for 2020 are $750,000 below where...
Flying this Thanksgiving? Here’s what Western Pa. travelers can expectVideo
Though health officials are urging people to stay home for the holidays, Pittsburgh International Airport is reporting an uptick in travel as Thanksgiving approaches. Thanksgiving week tends to be one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, said Bob Kerlik, a spokesman for Pittsburgh International Airport. In a normal...
Pa. officials urge people with covid to cooperate with contact tracing
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, in step with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will begin prioritizing covid-19 contact tracing and case investigation efforts as cases surge and fewer people cooperate with tracers and investigators. Pennsylvania’s positivity rate rose to 11% this week, with more than 34,700...
Ohio governor says state’s first vaccine batch coming by Dec. 15
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio could see its first batches of a coronavirus vaccine by Dec. 15, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday, citing calls his office has had with federal officials. The Republican governor called the announcement good news even as covid-19 cases skyrocket in Ohio along with a record number...
Pennsylvania adds 6,669 new covid-19 cases
Pennsylvania reported 6,669 new covid-19 cases Tuesday, according to the state’s Department of Health. There were also 81 new deaths reported, all of which were from November. Tuesday’s figures bring total cases and total deaths to 321,070 and 9,951, respectively. In the state, there are 3,897 covid-19 patients hospitalized, with...
Westmoreland County sets records for 3 covid-19 statistics
Westmoreland County set highs for three covid-19 statistics Tuesday. Seven-day total cases (1,465) and seven-day total deaths (36) are both records. The seven-day average of new daily cases (209) is also a record. Westmoreland County coronavirus by dayInfogram There were 240 new covid-19 cases and five new deaths reported Tuesday...
Allegheny County reports 1st child death from covid-19, new record 7-day case total
Allegheny County set records Tuesday for seven-day total of new covid-19 cases and seven-day average of new cases. From Nov. 18 to Tuesday, 3,810 cases of coronavirus were reported, beating the previous record (3,671) by 139 cases. Over that same span, the average daily cases reported was 544. Allegheny County...
Putin can’t take Russia’s ‘safe’ covid-19 vaccine, Kremlin says
President Vladimir Putin told fellow world leaders last week that both of Russia’s covid-19 vaccines, including one he championed as the world’s first inoculation against the disease, are safe and effective. That doesn’t mean he’s taken either of them. “We have not yet begun widespread vaccination and the head of...
China, Japan to cooperate in reviving virus-hit economies
TOKYO — The foreign ministers of Japan and China agreed Tuesday to cooperate in fighting the coronavirus and reviving their pandemic-hit economies, while trying to avoid actions that provoke tensions over disputed islands in the East China Sea. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday, and...
Virus outbreak delays production at world’s top glove maker
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s Top Glove Corp., the world’s largest maker of rubber gloves, said Tuesday it expects a two to four week delay in deliveries after more than 2,000 workers at its factories were infected by the coronavirus, raising the possibility of supply disruptions during the pandemic. Top...
Thanksgiving could be make-or-break in U.S. virus response
In Pennsylvania, if you’re having friends over to socialize, you’re supposed to wear a mask — and so are your friends. That’s the rule, but Barb Chestnut has no intention of following it. “No one is going to tell me what I can or not do in my own home”...
School districts must sign off on covid-19 safety procedures or go virtual by month’s end
School districts in Westmoreland, Armstrong and Allegheny counties have until 5 p.m. Nov. 30 to switch to full remote instruction or affirm that they are complying with the state’s covid-19 safety measures. Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine announced the new directive Monday for all public schools...
West Virginia hits new coronavirus records as leaders resist new measures
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has again smashed a weekly record for confirmed cases of the coronavirus as Thanksgiving approaches. Health officials said there were 5,153 confirmed cases of the virus statewide last week, up 11.4% from the old record of 4,623 positive cases set the previous week. In the...
Millions stick to Thanksgiving travel plans despite warningsVideo
About 1 million Americans a day packed airports and planes over the weekend even as coronavirus deaths surged across the U.S. and public health experts begged people to stay home and avoid big Thanksgiving gatherings. And the crowds are only expected to grow. Next Sunday is likely to be the...
