Coronavirus category, Page 175
Robert Morris furloughs staff, cuts budget by $3M
Robert Morris University is scrambling to make up for an estimated $10 million loss from the covid-19 shutdown. Officials at the private university in Moon said they have furloughed staff, including unnamed coaches and members of the athletic department, reduced the budget by $3 million and frozen wages that are...
$50 million in grant funding to be available for Pa. fire, EMS companies
Millions of dollars in grants are on the way for Pennsylvania’s fire departments and ambulance agencies struggling through the coronavirus pandemic. Social distancing guidelines meant to slow the virus’ spread have had a negative impact on the fundraisers fire departments rely on annually. Departments lost tens of thousands of dollars...
Protests eclipse pandemic, but White House fears resurgence
WASHINGTON — For weeks, President Donald Trump has been eager to publicly turn the page on the coronavirus pandemic. Now fears are growing within the White House that the very thing that finally shoved the virus from center stage — mass protests over the death of George Floyd — may...
George Floyd autopsy report released; he tested positive for COVID-19 in April
MINNEAPOLIS — The Hennepin County medical examiner’s office released the full autopsy results performed on George Floyd with his family’s permission. The release comes nine days after Floyd died following his detention on the pavement by police at a Minneapolis intersection and as crucial differences surfaced Monday with private autopsy...
Florida coronavirus cases surge past 58,700 as state has biggest daily gain in 6 weeksVideo
MIAMI — Florida’s Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed 1,317 additional cases of covid-19, bringing the state’s total to more than 58,000. The state now has 58,764 confirmed cases of the disease. Wednesday’s daily total of newly confirmed cases is the highest the state has seen since April 17 when...
Coronavirus case count surges as 40 new Arizona deaths reportedVideo
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona officials reported nearly 1,000 new coronavirus cases Wednesday amid a recent surge in hospitalizations, a little over two weeks after Gov. Doug Ducey ended his stay-at-home order. The surge of new cases is a troubling sign for former state health director Will Humble, who said the...
West Virginia University to require coronavirus tests before return
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University will require testing of all students, faculty and staff for the coronavirus before they can return to campus for the start of fall classes. The university said Wednesday that in setting Aug. 19 as the start of fall classes students must wear masks on...
Protests not changing health department plans as Allegheny County moves to green
Allegheny County county officials want to remind residents the coronavirus is still around as the region prepares to moves into the green phase of the state’s reopening plan. “The virus has not gone away,” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said during a press briefing Wednesday. “We have not developed a vaccine...
State covid-19 counts at nursing homes disputed by centers in Allegheny, Westmoreland
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported a large spike in coronavirus deaths at Kane Community Living’s Glen Hazel location, but Allegheny County officials say that never happened. The state’s updated report says there have been 78 resident cases, 43 resident deaths and 25 staff cases. Allegheny County, which operates the...
Splash time: Youngwood pool opens with special restrictionsVideo
Seven-year-old Catalina Jennings was the first to make a splash at Youngwood Park N Pool minutes after it opened Wednesday. Her mother was not far away, applying sunscreen in a shaded 12- by 12-foot section of grass where the family set up for the day. They were among a dozen...
The Rev. Randy Bush: What fills the space between us?
Dog walks are now both an excuse and a necessity. They are an excuse to get out of the house and walk around the neighborhood. And they are how we see other people during these days of “stay at home” orders and pandemic precautions. To the dog, the walks are...
‘Comeback kid’? West Virginia governor gets unlikely boost from coronavirus
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Before the coronavirus upended the world, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice was in trouble. His own party rebelled against him. Federal prosecutors investigated him. Embarrassing lawsuits loomed. But now some believe that the Republican governor has been able to use his daily virus news conferences to stabilize...
75 new coronavirus deaths, 511 new cases reported in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 75 new covid-19 deaths and 511 new cases Wednesday. That brings the state’s total case count to 73,405, with 5,742 deaths. The state considers 617 patients as probable cases, but they are not confirmed. More than half of coronavirus cases in the state are...
2 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths reported in Westmoreland County – Jun. 3, 2020
Two new covid-19 cases were reported Wednesday in Westmoreland County, but no new deaths. The countywide case total is now 453, with 38 deaths, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. County Coroner Kenneth Bacha reported 32 coronavirus deaths, less than the state’s number but Bacha’s office has not updated...
24 new coronavirus cases reported in Allegheny County, no new deaths
Allegheny County officials reported 24 additional covid-19 cases and no new deaths Wednesday. That leaves the total number of deaths countywide at 152, while the total number of confirmed and probable cases rose to 1,952. The reported death count is still lagging behind state data, which has recorded 165 deaths...
Scientist defends Sweden’s hotly debated virus strategy
Sweden’s chief epidemiologist on Wednesday defended his country’s controversial coronavirus strategy, which avoided a lockdown but resulted in one of the highest per capita COVID-19 death rates in the world. Anders Tegnell of the Public Health Agency denied that “the Swedish strategy was wrong and should be changed. That’s not...
Arkansas reports another 1-day record in new coronavirus cases
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas on Tuesday marked another one-day record for new coronavirus cases, and the governor said plans to further loosen restrictions on businesses remained on hold because of the spike. The Health Department said at least 7,818 people tested positive for the virus, an increase of 375 over...
Vandergrift to reopen pool and library, Facebook page coming
Restrictions to public facilities in Vandergrift will begin easing, after council voted Monday night to amend its declaration of emergency to fit guidelines in the green phase. “If there is potential funding, I would hate for us to lose it,” said attorney Alaine Generelli, on why the emergency declaration should...
Westmoreland green phase: No temp checks at courthouse, offices opening
Westmoreland County is moving to green status on Friday, meaning courthouse visitors won’t need a temperature check to enter, and some restrictions on access to row offices will be lifted. Gov. Wolf announced last week that Westmoreland would be joining other counties in southwestern Pennsylvania in moving from the yellow...
Concerns mount about 2 studies on drugs for coronavirus
Concerns are mounting about studies in two influential medical journals on drugs used in people with coronavirus, including one that led multiple countries to stop testing a malaria pill. The New England Journal of Medicine issued an “expression of concern” Tuesday on a study it published May 1 that suggested...
China delayed releasing coronavirus info, frustrating WHO
Throughout January, the World Health Organization (WHO) publicly praised China for what it called a speedy response to the new coronavirus and thanked the Chinese government for sharing the genetic map of the virus “immediately.” But in fact, Chinese officials sat on releasing the genetic map, or genome, of the...
Pennsylvania health officials ask protesters to adhere to coronavirus safety guidelines
State health officials have no plans to alter the timeline of when counties will move to the next phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s phased reopening plan despite large-scale protests over the death of George Floyd not adhering to social distancing guidelines. Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said health officials respect...
Pennsylvania Turnpike to lay off 500 employees, make cashless tolling permanent
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission this month will lay off about 500 employees — mostly toll collectors — as it switches permanently to a cashless system statewide. That’s roughly a quarter of the commission’s total workforce. The commission originally planned to make the switch to cashless late next year, promising no...
UK study finds minorities at higher risk of COVID-19 death
People from ethnic minorities have died from COVID-19 in larger relative numbers in England than their white compatriots, according to a study published by health authorities Tuesday. The Public Health England report hinted at reasons for the discrepancy but didn’t offer any recommendations. The government didn’t offer any solutions, prompting...
2 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths reported in Westmoreland County – Jun. 2, 2020
Two new covid-19 cases were reported Tuesday in Westmoreland County. No new deaths were counted. The countywide case total is now 451, with 38 deaths, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. County Coroner Kenneth Bacha has reported 32 coronavirus deaths, less than the state’s reported 38. Bacha’s office has...
