Coronavirus category, Page 86
Western Pa. resident shares experience with Moderna vaccine trial
As vaccine rollout gets underway in hospitals and long-term care facilities, participants in the trials that made it possible are coming forward to share their experiences – and to assure members of the public there is nothing to fear. “I just thought, maybe people might have a better understanding,” said...
Updated Pa. vaccination plan adds new phase for more essential employees
Pennsylvania officials continue to retool the state’s vaccination plan to fall in line with recommendations from federal groups and further define who can get the vaccine and when, releasing the fourth iteration of plan on Friday afternoon. “It will take several months before there is vaccine available for everyone,” said...
Biden to speed release of coronavirus vaccinesVideo
WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden will release most available covid-19 vaccine doses to speed delivery to more people, a reversal of the Trump administration’s approach, his office said Friday. “The president-elect believes we must accelerate distribution of the vaccine while continuing to ensure the Americans who need it most get...
Pfizer study suggests vaccine works against virus variant
New research suggests Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in the two more-contagious variants of the coronavirus that have erupted around the world, including here in Pennsylvania. The results are reassuring, albeit preliminary, and not surprising to scientists who didn’t expect a single mutation to defeat the...
Pennsylvania reports most new covid cases since mid-December
Pennsylvania on Friday reported 10,178 new cases of coronavirus, the most added in more than three weeks. This marks a return to more than 10,000 daily reported cases since 10,684 on Dec. 16. The state’s highest daily report was 12,884 back on Dec. 5. The state now has 703,265 cases...
Westmoreland County hits record hospitalizations for covid-19
Westmoreland County on Friday reported 184 residents hospitalized for covid-19, the most since the pandemic began. Of those, 19 are in intensive care units and 13 are on ventilators. Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported the county added 346 new cases of coronavirus, with 146 of those confirmed...
U.S. tops 4,000 daily deaths from coronavirus for 1st time
ORANGE, Calif. — The U.S. has topped 4,000 daily deaths from the coronavirus for the first time, breaking a record set just one day earlier, with the surge being driven in several Sun Belt states that experienced spikes over the summer. The tally from Johns Hopkins University shows the U.S....
Allegheny County again tops Pa. in new coronavirus cases
Allegheny County on Friday reported 967 new coronavirus cases, more than any other Pennsylvania county. Philadelphia ranked second, reporting 611 new cases. The new cases were the highest reported in the county in about a week but still well short of the record 1,322 reported Dec. 11. Over the past...
Mayor warns London situation critical as virus spreads fast
LONDON — London’s mayor declared the capital’s covid-19 situation to be critical Friday, reflecting deteriorating conditions for beleaguered hospitals, as the country authorized a third vaccine for emergency use. Sadiq Khan declared a “major incident,″ as the rapid spread of the virus pushed hospitals to breaking point, with the number...
UN fears ‘massive’ covid transmission in Ethiopia’s Tigray
NAIROBI, Kenya — The United Nations fears “massive community transmission” of covid-19 in Ethiopia’s troubled Tigray region, fueled by displacement and the collapse of health services, as humanitarian workers finally begin to access the region two months after fighting began. A new U.N. report based on the first on-the-ground assessments...
Virus cases continue to spread at Westmoreland prison
As the coronavirus continues to spread among inmates at the Westmoreland County Prison, officials said Thursday there are signs that infections have started to slow at the Hempfield facility. Interim Warden George Lowther said there are 77 inmates infected, with new cases almost daily. But the overall number of new...
Westmoreland first responders flocking to Latrobe pharmacy for coronavirus vaccine
First responders around Westmoreland County have started getting inoculated against the coronavirus with help from The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Latrobe. Owner and pharmacist Sue Schropp said the response in the last couple weeks has been overwhelming, but she’s happy to contribute to the health of the community’s front lines....
Excela Health prepares to administer 2nd dose of vaccine to its workers, Mutual Aid medics and EMTs
Excela Health employees who have gotten the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine will get a second and final shot starting Friday, according to chief medical officer Carol Fox. More inoculations for employees who have yet to get the first dose and independent providers will get underway in the coming...
As Arizona becomes world covid hot spot, focus put on governor
As Arizona experienced periodic spikes in covid-19 cases since last spring, Gov. Doug Ducey frequently resisted calls to take strong measures. He has declined to institute a statewide mask mandate, allowed school districts to mostly make their own choices and allowed businesses to stay open. All of those choices by...
Pa. sees highest covid case count in 3 weeks
Pennsylvania has nearly 10,000 new covid cases, according to the state Department of Health. There were 9,698 covid cases and 265 new deaths reported Thursday. Of the newly reported deaths, 103 are from January, 161 are from December and one is from November. The new numbers bring total cases to...
Pa. officials encourage in-person learning for elementary studentsVideo
Pennsylvania health and education officials Thursday encouraged school districts to return elementary school students to classrooms, at least partially. “Beginning in the second semester, which typically begins around Jan. 25, and as local conditions permit, schools are going to be encouraged to allow for elementary school students to return back...
Westmoreland County reports similar number of covid deaths in 1st weeks of January, December
Westmoreland County on Thursday reported 279 additional covid-19 cases, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. There were six coronavirus-related deaths reported as well. The number of total cases in the county is now at 21,003 and total deaths at 465. Westmoreland County coronavirus by dayInfogram Through the first seven...
Allegheny County reports 664 new covid cases, 10 deaths
Allegheny County reported 664 new covid cases and 10 new covid deaths Thursday, per the county Health Department. There have now been 58,372 total cases and 1,067 deaths reported in the county. In the first seven days of the month and year, 4,563 cases and 112 deaths have been reported....
1st covid-19 variant case identified in Pennsylvania
The first case of the covid-19 variant initially seen in the United Kingdom last month has been identified in Pennsylvania, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Thursday. “Public health experts are still in the early stages of working to better understand this new variant, how it spreads and how...
How quickly do I need a 2nd covid-19 vaccine shot?
The first covid-19 vaccines in the U.S. require two doses a few weeks apart. People should get some degree of protection within two weeks of the first shot, with the second shot bringing about the vaccine’s full protection. For the vaccine by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech, the second shot is...
South Africa buys 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa says it will import 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate the country’s health workers. This is South Africa’s first announcement of the purchase of a covid-19 vaccine as cases there soar. The first 1 million doses will be delivered later this month from...
Allegheny County officials worried about large New Year’s parties leading to covid spread
Allegheny County officials remain concerned about a post-holiday surge in covid-19 cases, as case investigators have already begun receiving reports of cases stemming from parties and travel. Dr. Debra Bogen, director of the county health department, said cases and hospitalizations hit a peak in late November and early December and...
Few covid infections in Allegheny County linked to classroom, health officials say
Few covid-19 infections among K-12 students in Allegheny County have been linked to the classroom, Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen said Wednesday. Students learning from home have had just as many cases as those learning in-person or through hybrid models, Bogen said during a county Board of Health meeting. “I...
Westmoreland County adds 16 covid deaths, 331 new cases
Westmoreland County saw its highest single-day coronavirus death report Wednesday, adding 16 to its total. Those newly reported deaths bring the county’s total to 459, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Deaths have been climbing rapidly in the county after a slow climb to 100 at the end of...
Pennsylvania reports highest new covid case total in 2 weeks
Pennsylvania reported its highest total of new cases of coronavirus in two weeks on Wednesday. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 9,474 new positive cases of covid-19, raising the statewide total to 683,389. The state also added the most new deaths to its total since May. Wednesday’s addition of 368...
