Coronavirus category, Page 157
Gov. Wolf tightens restrictions on bars, restaurants as covid-19 surge continues
More restrictions on Pennsylvania bars and restaurants become effective Thursday in response to what Gov. Tom Wolf characterized as an “unsettling climb” of covid-19 cases in the state. “We’re already at a tipping point where we have to act now,” Wolf said, later adding, “This virus is saying, ‘I’m back.’...
Pittsburgh closes firefighter training facility over coronavirus concerns
Pittsburgh on Tuesday temporarily closed its firefighter training academy after one of the instructors reported covid-19 symptoms, the city reported Wednesday. Thirty-six recruits and instructors are now in quarantine, according to the city and Ralph Sicuro, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 1. “This decision was made out of...
6 more Port Authority employees test positive for covid-19
Six Port Authority of Allegheny County employees have tested positive for covid-19 since last week’s update, bringing the total number of employee cases to 27, officials said Wednesday. Fifteen of these employees have been cleared to return to work. Eleven are at home recovering and one remains hospitalized. The six...
Virus resurgence forces countries to reimpose restrictions
PROMACHONAS, Greece — Countries around the world are reimposing lockdowns and implementing new health checks at their borders in an effort to curb a resurgence of the coronavirus before it spins even further out of control. Starting Wednesday, all travelers arriving in Greece from a land border with Bulgaria were...
Western Pennsylvanians sought to take part in coronavirus vaccine trials
Researchers are seeking at least 750 people in Western Pennsylvania to take part in trials for vaccines against the novel coronavirus that causes covid-19, UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh announced Wednesday. The trials are part of what is called Operation Warp Speed, a national push to rapidly develop a...
Pennsylvania reports 994 new covid-19 cases, 26 new deaths
Pennsylvania added 994 new covid-19 cases to its total Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported. The increase of nearly 1,000 cases represents the second straight day the number was above 900. That last time that happened was in mid-May. On Tuesday, 929 cases were reported. There were 139,819 tests...
21 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County
There are 21 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths in Westmoreland County, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Wednesday. The new cases come from 527 tests, representing a 3.98% positivity rate for those cases. All of the new cases are confirmed. The county case total now stands at 1,054,...
Allegheny County adds 246 new covid-19 cases, 5 new deaths
One day after it added a record number of new covid-19 cases, Allegheny County reported another huge tally of new coronavirus cases on Wednesday. The county reported 246 new cases, five new deaths and one new hospitalization on Wednesday. The latest batch of added cases come from tests that span...
Lockdowns reimposed in India as virus cases near 1 million
NEW DELHI — As India’s confirmed coronavirus cases approach 1 million, lockdowns are being reimposed in parts of the country as local governments try to shield the health system from being overwhelmed. India on Wednesday reported nearly 30,000 new cases and 582 more deaths, raising its totals to more than...
Florida sets new one-day state coronavirus death record with 132Video
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida broke its one-day record for coronavirus deaths Tuesday and while there is a possible caveat, the state is experiencing a skyrocketing fatality rate that’s near the highest in the nation and a rapidly growing number of cases. The 132 deaths reported Tuesday is a 10%...
First covid-19 vaccine tested in U.S. poised for final testingVideo
The first covid-19 vaccine tested in the United States revved up people’s immune systems just the way scientists had hoped, researchers reported Tuesday — as the shots are poised to begin key final testing. “No matter how you slice this, this is good news,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s...
Montana care home refused free tests. Now, nearly everyone has coronavirus
BILLINGS, Mont. — It was meant to be a last line of defense to protect the most vulnerable as the coronavirus spread across the United States: Montana officials offered free testing in May for staff and residents at assisted living and long-term care facilities. But not all of them followed...
Free covid-19 testing available in Greensburg next week
Greensburg residents wanting to be tested for covid-19 will soon have another option available to them. The Community Health Clinic at 218 South Maple Ave. is offering free covid-19 testing beginning the week of July 20. The testing will be available to all community members. People with and without symptoms...
Trump administration rescinds rule that could have deported thousands of international students
Lawyers for the Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a new rule that would have forced international college students to leave the U.S., transfer to another college or face deportation if their schools held classes entirely online because of the covid-19 pandemic. In the week since it was issued, the rule...
Strip District Meats to reopen Thursday
Strip District Meats, which bills itself as a “full-service butcher shop,” is reopening July 16. The announcement was made on its Facebook page: “Pittsburgh’s favorite butcher is back, and cleaner than ever! See yinz Thursday.” The butcher shop at 2123 Penn Ave. announced July 7 that it was closing temporarily...
Canada, U.S. poised to extend border restrictions to Aug. 21Video
TORONTO — The United States and Canada are poised to extend their agreement to keep their shared border closed to non-essential travel to Aug. 21, but a final confirmation has not been given, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday. The agreement would likely extend the closure by another...
Tommy Thompson: Washington wants to forfeit our best weapon against coronavirus
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and several senior House lawmakers recently announced a plan to impose price controls and seize patents on any covid-19 vaccines and treatments in development. They vowed to strike down any emergency stimulus packages excluding such measures. Those efforts aren’t just misguided — they pose a threat...
Jimmy Fallon, ‘Tonight’ show return to studio, sans audienceVideo
The studio is largely empty, but Jimmy Fallon is out of his home and back to the “Tonight” show stage. The NBC late-night host returned to NBC’s Rockefeller Center headquarters Monday, saying he hoped he could provide his audience with a little more “normal” during the coronavirus pandemic. “I’m here...
929 new coronavirus cases, 20 new deaths reported in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania saw a significant increase in new covid-19 cases Tuesday, with the Department of Health logging 929 new cases. Health officials reported 20 more people have now died from the disease in Pennsylvania, bringing the total to 6,931. Of today’s new case count, the state reported 216 were a result...
23 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Tuesday that there were 23 new covid-19 cases in Westmoreland County, bringing its total to 1,033 cases since March 20. No new deaths were reported in the county. The county’s coronavirus death counts remains at 39, according to the department. Tuesday’s new case count...
Exact change? Western Pa. businesses impacted by national coin shortage
Businesses are facing yet another hurdle from the coronavirus pandemic — a shortage of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. The national coin shortage, which is impacting businesses across the nation, is the result of disruption in the supply chain when stay-at-home orders were put in place and businesses were forced...
Testing backlog yields 331 new covid-19 cases in Allegheny County
With 331 new covid-19 cases, Allegheny County shattered its single-day new case count by nearly 100 cases, health officials reported Tuesday. However, the day’s total is based on a record 4,536 new tests, of which 7.3% were positive. The tests were conducted over more than a month’s span from June...
Fallingwater to host free distribution of fresh produce
A free distribution of fresh produce is planned Wednesday at Fallingwater in Fayette County. Open to anyone in need, the giveaway organized by 412 Food Rescue will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the main parking lot of the historical site at 1491 Mill Run Road, off Route 381...
Doctor: Miami becoming ‘epicenter’ of coronavirus outbreakVideo
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida’s rapidly increasing number of coronavirus cases is turning Miami into the “epicenter of the pandemic,” a top doctor warned Monday, while an epidemiologist called the region’s situation “extremely grave.” Those assessments came as Florida recorded more than 12,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases Monday after a...
White House turns on Fauci as Trump minimizes coronavirus spikeVideo
WASHINGTON — With U.S. virus cases spiking and the death toll mounting, the White House is working to undercut its most trusted coronavirus expert, playing down the danger as President Donald Trump pushes to get the economy moving before he faces voters in November. The U.S. has become a cautionary...
