TIMELINE: First person dies from coronavirus in Allegheny Co.; 371 cases statewide

PITTSBURGH — Cases of the novel coronavirus in Pennsylvania have surpassed 370. Furthering steps to help limit the virus’ spread, Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in the state to close their physical locations. Keep checking back for the latest COVID-19 updates throughout the day.

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

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• TIMELINE: Pennsylvania coronavirus updates March 20

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.: St. Clair Hospital will be closing to visitors starting Sunday.

According to a release, the Mt. Lebanon hospital is doing this “to ensure the health and safety of patients and staff.”

However, officials said permitted circumstances will require exceptions to be made, and those rare exceptions will be “determined by a patient’s clinical care team on a case-by-case basis.”

You can find a complete description of the hospital’s new visitation policy at its website.

All permitted visitors will be screened for cough, fever, difficulty breathing or contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

UPDATE 6:20 p.m.: The mayor of Clairton, Rich Lattanzi, confirmed in a Facebook post that the person who died from COVID-19 in Allegheny County was a Clairton resident.

His full statement is below:

“At this time as a Mayor and a human being and with the sadness from my council and city administration, we were made aware that a resident of Clairton has passed away from the Covid-19 Virus that has plagued our nation and found our city. Prayers from all of us from City Hall and condolences to the entire family. May you find peace and love from our community. Asking our City of Prayer to respect this family’s privacy and please take every precautionary actions to protect yourself, your family and neighbors.”

Butler County confirms first coronavirus case; state total at 371 Butler County confirms first coronavirus case; state total at 371

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Giant Eagle announced Saturday it plans to award $10 million in bonus pay to its employees as the company continues hiring efforts for positions across the organization.

In a release, officials said the bonus pay will be offered to all employees at Giant Eagle, Market District, Giant Eagle Pharmacy and GetGo locations -- as well as those working in warehouses and delivering products to stores.

The bonus pay will start immediately and is retroactive to March 15. Company officials said there is currently a Saturday, May 2 end date, which will be reevaluated in the coming weeks. Both current and new employees will be eligible for the bonus pay as well.

UPDATE 3:35 p.m.: Allegheny County health officials provided an update following the first confirmed death from coronavirus in the county.

So far, there have been 31 people who tested positive COVID-19 in Allegheny County, but health officials expect that number to increase.

“This number will certainly increase in the coming days -- not only because testing will increase, but also because we have community spread," said Allegheny County Health Department Director Debra Bogen.

Health officials confirmed the person who died from coronavirus in the county was in their late-60s and was a patient at Jefferson Hospital.

If you have personal protective equipment that you can donate to people on the frontline, Allegheny County health officials are asking you to email them first at COVID19donations@alleghenycounty.us.

You can watch that full press conference below:

UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: Several Pittsburgh Firefighters are being told to stay home after traveling overseas. Several are being screened for possible exposure to the coronavirus.

UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: A construction company donated masks and negative air machines to St. Clair Hospital. Hospital officials said Rycon Construction offered up the supplies to keep patients and employees safe while caring for people with the coronavirus.

Additionally, Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville reopened an online portal for new release films and classic movies. The portal opens today and there will be two Pittsburgh premiers each week. Cinema officials said half of all ticket sales will help support the Row House Cinema during the coronavirus shut down. Tickets will range from $8 to $12.

“Corpus Christi” and “The Wild Goose Lake” are the first two films premiering.

UPDATE 12:01 p.m.: As of 12:01 a.m. there were 371 people who tested positive now in 28 counties, according to state officials. Yesterday there were only 83 new cases. Today there were 103 new cases.

Roughly 40 PA residents have required hospitalization. 3,766 have tested negative. Health officials urge people to continue to practice social distancing and stay home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

In our area:

• 1 in Butler County
• 3 in Beaver County
• 5 in Washington County
• 31 in Allegheny County, 1 death reported
• 4 in Westmoreland County

The State Health Secretary said there are more cases in the state because more people are being infected, not just because of increased testing. The number of cases is doubling roughly ever two days. State health officials are preparing for the hospital system to be taxed in terms of ventilator supplies and protective equipment.

Additionally, state officials said they are now seeing community spread in areas like Allegheny County and in counties near Philadelphia. With people with mild systems staying home, it helps control the spread and slow down the coronavirus.

State leaders are holding discussions about possible shelter-in-place orders, however, that is not yet a possibility, according to the State Health Secretary.

UPDATE 11:50 a.m.: Officials at Butler Health System report their first presumptive positive test for the coronavirus. The patient, who had been sick, was directed to be tested at BHS’s outdoor site earlier in the week. The patient is recovering at home. The state and county have been notified of the case.

(NOTE: Officials later said the case was confirmed positive.)

UPDATE 11:00 a.m.: Officials with the Allegheny County Health Department announced that the first person to die from the coronavirus has occurred in the county. The person was an adult who was hospitalized.

There are 31 cases confirmed in the county with 5 people hospitalized.

Murrsyville Golf Club announced it is closed due to the statewide mandates set forth by Gov. Tom Wolf. During this time, the facility is offering specially discounted items to customers and will share the proceeds with local charities. The items include gift card and foursomes for $100.

UPDATE 10:56 a.m.: The Department of State has suspended certain requirements for nurses, including temporarily extending license expiration dates and waiving fees during the coronavirus outbreak.

This also means that:

• Temporary nursing practice permits and graduate permits will be extended beyond one year and extension fees will be waived.
• Registered Nurses will not have to apply for extensions of their RN graduate or temporary permits. All temporary and graduate permits that would normally expire during the next 90 days will be automatically extended for an additional 90 days.
• Practical Nurses will not have to apply for extensions of their PN graduate or temporary permits. All temporary and graduate permits that would normally expire during the next 90 days will be automatically extended for an additional 90 days.
• Registered Nurses, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs) and Certified Nurse Specialists (CNS) can continue to care for patients if their licenses are currently “in renewal” and set to expire on April 30, 2020. These licenses will be extended for an additional three months until July 31, 2020.

Nursing school graduates who:

• have been issued “Authorizations to Test” by the board, and
• have been unable to sit for the licensure examinations due to cancellation of the examinations because of COVID-19, and
• do not already have a graduate permit

can immediately apply for a graduate permit so they assist in the COVID-19 response. The permit allows graduate nurses to practice under supervision of a registered nurse until they can take the examinations.

UPDATE 10:05 a.m.: Movin’ On 2020 has been cancelled at Penn State due to the coronavirus.

UPDATE 9:53 a.m.: The Westmoreland Museum of American Art announced they are closed until further notice due to the spread of COVID-19. All museum programs and events through mid-April have either been cancelled or postponed.

UPDATE 9:00 a.m.: Hundreds of inmates have been released from the Allegheny County Jail to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Watch more in the video below:

Hundreds of inmates released to help slow spread of COVID-19 Hundreds of inmates released to help slow spread of COVID-19

UPDATE 8:40 a.m.: The Chaffin Luhana Foundation partnered with multiple businesses in the area to help students without food. The group is working with 412 Food Rescue, Oakmont Bakery, Oakmont Deli, Bird Dog’s Sports Bar & Grill, UTZ Quality Foods INC., Sam’s Club, Lamagna Cheese and Tambellini Event Catering to help make a distribute 10,000 sandwiches starting at 9 a.m. Monday.

UPDATE 6:30 a.m.: There are now 38 coronavirus cases confirmed in western Pennsylvania.

Gov. Tom Wolf also pushed back the enforcement of his shutdown order. The list of business Gov. Wolf deemed “life-sustaining” has been further updated. Two big changes include coal mining and laundry services. Those business will be allowed to continue operating during the business shut down.

You can read the full list by clicking here

Additionally, the order will not be enforced until Monday at 8 a.m. Officials cited a “high volume of waiver requests" as the reason for pushing back the date.

You can read more from Governor Wolf’s office HERE.

You will soon be able to get tested for the novel coronavirus at the Pittsburgh Zoo parking lot.

Starting March 23, the Central Outreach Wellness Center will be using the zoo’s main parking lot for drive-thru COVID-19 testing.

That is located at 7370 Baker Street in Pittsburgh.

According to a release, everyone is asked to bring a photo ID and insurance card. However, officials said they will not turn anyone away who doesn’t have insurance.

You also do not need a referral or prescription to receive testing.

Although, officials said if you don’t have any of the main coronavirus symptoms (dry cough/fever/shortness of breath) you are asked to stay home to keep from getting infected.

Dozens of nonviolent inmates released from Allegheny County Jail amid coronavirus outbreak Dozens of nonviolent inmates released from Allegheny County Jail amid coronavirus outbreak

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