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Coronavirus: LIVE UPDATES: Possible exposure shuts down Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Training Academy

PITTSBURGH — Channel 11 News is committed to keeping you informed about the coronavirus, the impact on our community and your lives. Below you’ll find all of the updates for Wednesday, July 15, including the latest numbers and information from local and state officials.

Have questions about the spread of the coronavirus? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak. CLICK HERE for more.

Little Italy Days moving to Columbus Day weekend

UPDATE 3:45 p.m. The Bloomfield tradition is being affected by the coronavirus.

This year’s festival will now be held October 8 through 11.

Centers for Disease Control guidelines will be followed, as well as any mandates from the state and the city.


Gov. Wolf announces new efforts targeting restaurants, bars and gatherings due to rising COVID-19 cases

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: Gov. Tom Wolf has announced more mitigation efforts for the state of Pennsylvania targeting restaurants, bars and gatherings as a result of rising COVID-19 cases.

Wolf said the increase in cases come from people ignoring mask wearing requirements when visiting bars and restaurants, out-of-state travel and a lack of national coordination.

Wolf is signing an executive order that will implement the following mitigation efforts:

  • 25% percent occupancy at restaurants; outdoor dining rules remain in effect
  • Alcohol sales only allowed during sit down meals; to-go-cocktails will still be allowed.
  • Teleworking when possible.
  • Indoor events and gatherings will be 25 or less
  • Outdoor events and gatherings is 250 or less

Click here for more details.


Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Training Academy shut down due to possible COVID-19 exposure

UPDATE 2:30 p.m. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Training Academy along Washington Boulevard was shut down this morning due to a potential COVID-19 exposure, according to Ralph Sicuro, the president of the Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local No. 1.

A staff instructor said he wasn’t feeling good last night and made the decision to get tested, Sicuro said.

A total of 36 people have been told to stay home until the results come back or until the two week period is over, according to Sicuro. Those people include the staff instructor who is symptomatic, 24 trainees in the class, for other staff instructors and seven adjunct instructors.

Sicuro said 59 firefighters in the Pittsburgh Fire Department are already in quarantine.



Six more Port Authority employees test positive for COVID-19

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: Six more Port Authority employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since, bringing the total number of employee cases to 27.

According to the Port Authority, 15 of those employees have been cleared to return to work, 11 are at home recovering and employee remains hospitalized.

A spokesperson for the Port Authority provided the following information about the new positive cases:

Case #22

A service person at the East Liberty Garage, this employee tested positive on Thursday, July 9. They last worked on Wednesday, July 8 and has been in a medically directed self-quarantine since that time. The employee reports that they recently traveled out of state.

Case #23

A mechanic in the Auto Shop at South Hills Junction, this employee tested positive on Thursday, July 9. They last worked on Thursday, July 2 and has been in a medically directed precautionary self-quarantine since that time. The employee reported when initially placed in quarantine that they had been in close contact with a relative who recently tested positive for the virus.

Case #24

A bus operator at the East Liberty Garage, this employee tested positive on Friday, July 10. They last worked on Monday, July 6 and has been hospitalized since that time.

Case #25

A bus operator at the East Liberty Garage, this employee tested positive on Friday, July 10. They last worked on Thursday, July 2 and has been in a medically directed precautionary self-quarantine since that time. The employee reported that they recently traveled out of state.

Case #26

An employee who works in the light rail Systems and Power Department at South Hills Junction, this employee tested positive on Friday, July 10. The employee last worked on Wednesday, July 1 and has been in a medically directed precautionary self-quarantine since that time. The employee reported that two family members have also tested positive for the virus.

Case #27

A bus operator at the West Mifflin Garage, this employee tested positive on Saturday, July 11. The employee last worked on Wednesday, July 8, and has been off in a medically directed self-quarantine since that time.


Hundreds of people in our area will soon be able to test a new COVID-19 vaccine

UPDATE 2 p.m.: Pittsburgh has been selected as one of a select number of nationwide sites to hold a clinical vaccine trial for fighting COVID-19.

Doctors from both UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh expect more than 750 people - over the age of 18 - to participate locally.

Click here to read more


Allegheny County reports 246 new positive COVID-19 cases Wednesday, 5 additional deaths

Update 10:00 a.m. The spike in COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County continued Wednesday with 246 new positive cases reported, according to the Allegheny County Health Department.

With Wednesday’s new cases, the county’s total is now at 5,610. The new positive cases come out of 2,944 test results from June 30 through July 14.

In the newest cases, ages range from 2 months to 102 years old, with the average age being 34.

There have been five additional deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 204.

There has also been one new hospitalization.