Allegheny County caps week of uptick in covid infections with 92 new cases

Allegheny County capped a week of higher covid-19 cases by adding another 92 cases Friday, according to a report from the county’s health department.

The new cases — 79 of which were confirmed, 13 probable — bumped the county’s seven-day average to 73 per day, 20 more than the average from the previous week (Aug. 21-28).

The 92 cases come from 1,166 tests conducted from Aug. 25-Sept. 3 — a positivity rate of 7.89%. Those new residents testing positive range in age from 2 to 96 years, with a median age of 36 years.

The county announced five new deaths Friday. Dates of the deaths — all of which are associated with a long-term care facility — span from Aug. 19 to Sept. 3. Among those, one was in their 60s, two in their 80s, and two in their 90s.

In addition to a week of higher cases, the county’s positivity rate has seen a rise, going from 4.69% at the end of last week to 6.38% as of Friday.

As of Friday, the county hit the 1,000 mark for hospitalizations for covid-19, adding one more resident to its total. Pennsylvania’s covid-19 tracking website reports there are 69 residents of Allegheny County currently being treated for covid-19 in hospitals, with 14 of them on ventilators.

The county’s website is reporting outcomes in 7,892 cases — where 7,543 are assumed to be recovered and 349 have died. That makes the recovery rate nearly 96% in cases with an outcome. Out of the county’s total of 10,641 covid-19 cases, there remain 2,749 cases without an assumed outcome.

The website counts individuals as recovered based on one of two conditions: It’s been 32 days since the person was hospitalized for covid-19 and not deceased; or, if they were not hospitalized, 14 days since they tested positive.

At the Allegheny County Jail, officials report there are no longer any inmates with covid in the facility. A total of 455 inmates have been tested to date. All of the 38 inmates found positive have either recovered or been released.

Among jail workers, the county reports there have been two new cases within the past week. A total of 116 employees have been tested, with 102 being negative and one test still pending. Ten workers at the jail have recovered.

As always, state and county health officials urge residents to wear masks, wash their hands and maintain physical distance from others to keep the community safe.