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 today’s updates, including the latest numbers and information from local and state officials.
We’re also covering positive stories in our communities. You can find the most recent ones HERE.
Have questions about the spread of the coronavirus? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak. CLICK HERE for more.
- TIMELINE: Pennsylvania coronavirus updates April 17
- PA CORONAVIRUS MAP: See the number of cases in each county
- LIVE UPDATES: Latest national, world coronavirus news
- Here are positive things happening within our community
Dozens of Pa. liquor stores offering curbside pickup starting Monday
UPDATE 7 p.m.: Several Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores will start offering curbside pickup starting on April 20, officials announced Saturday.
According to the website, each store listed here will take “a limited number of orders by phone from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until the store reaches the maximum number of orders it can fulfill that day.”
Curbside pickup will be offered Mondays through Saturdays, and orders are limited to one order of no more than six bottles. Only one order will be accepted per caller, per store, per day.
Also, credit card payment will be required by phone, and all sales are final.
Click here for more info!
Sixth Port Authority of Allegheny County employee tests positive for COVID-19
UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: A sixth Port Authority of Allegheny County employee has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The employee works in maintenance at the Port Authority's garage in West Mifflin and last worked April 13, officials said. The worker has been in self-quarantine at home.
Because this is the second West Mifflin maintenance employee to test positive in the last two days, the Port Authority said it is moving its maintenance team at the location to a holiday work schedule for the weekend. An outside company is being brought in to complete a deep clean of the entire facility.
Officials said transit service will not be impacted.
The Port Authority said the following in a news release:
“Port Authority continues to follow the protocols and guidance issued by public health authorities in addressing potential and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
“The Authority has more than 2,600 employees, including 1,300 operators and 800 mechanics. As of Friday, Port Authority had 59 employees being held out of work pending COVID-19 testing.”
$16 million in funding announced for Pennsylvania food banks
UPDATE 1 p.m.: Nearly $16 million in funding for Pennsylvania food banks was announced Saturday by Gov. Tom Wolf.
“COVID-19 has caused severe economic stress for many Pennsylvanians, and as a result our food banks have been working in overdrive with unprecedented demand,” Wolf said. “We’re proud of the Pennsylvanians who are sacrificing so much for the greater good. We’ll continue to push hard and advocate on their behalf, because no one should have to go without when they’re doing their part to save lives.”
CLICK HERE for more information.
COVID-19 Cases In Pennsylvania: Saturday Update
UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: There are 1,628 additional positive cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, bringing the total to 31,069, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Of the total number of cases, 2,127 are in western Pennsylvania.
In addition to the new cases, 80 more deaths have been reported. The statewide death total is now at 836.
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Here is a breakdown of cases in western Pennsylvania counties:
- Allegheny Co.: 1,009 cases, 47 deaths
- Butler Co.: 160 cases, 5 deaths
- Beaver Co.: 278 cases, 31 deaths
- Washington Co.: 79 cases, 2 deaths
- Greene Co.: 24 cases
- Fayette Co.: 66 cases, 3 deaths
- Westmoreland Co.: 280 cases, 19 deaths (According to the Westmoreland Co. coroner)
- Indiana Co.: 47 cases, 4 deaths
- Armstrong Co.: 36 cases, 2 deaths
- Clarion Co.: 18 cases, 1 death
- Venango Co.: 6 cases
- Forest Co.: 7 cases
- Lawrence Co.: 60 cases, 5 deaths
- Mercer Co.: 57 cases, 1 death
There are 122,896 patients who have tested negative, the Department of Health said.
Of the people who have tested positive, here is a percentage breakdown by age group:
- Less than 1% are aged 0-4
- Nearly 1% are aged 5-12
- 1% are aged 13-18
- 6% are aged 19-24
- 39% are aged 25-49
- 28% are aged 50-64
- Nearly 24% are aged 65 or older
“In nursing and personal care homes, there are 4,185 resident cases of COVID-19, and 462 cases among employees, for a total of 4,647 at 347 distinct facilities in 35 counties. Out of our total deaths, 462 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities,” a news release said.
#COVID19 Update (as of 4/18/20 at 12:00 am):
— PA Department of Health (@PAHealthDept) April 18, 2020
• 1,628 additional positive cases of COVID-19
• 31,069 total cases statewide
• 836 total deaths statewide
• 122,896 patients tested negative to date
County-specific information + statewide map: https://t.co/7pzosEXhEX
>>WATCH: Pa. Secretary of Health COVID-19 update (4/18/20)
Pa. now accepting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications
UPDATE 11:40 a.m.: Unemployed Pennsylvanians who are not eligible for regular unemployment compensation can begin filing claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits, Labor & Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak announced.
Pennsylvanians who meet PUA eligibility requirements can apply online.
Eligible people who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 include:
- Self-employed
- Independent contractors
- Gig workers
- Clergy and those working for religious organizations
- People without sufficient work history to qualify for regular UC
CLICK HERE for more information.
COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County: Saturday update
UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: There are 62 new positive cases of the coronavirus in Allegheny County, bringing the total to 1,009, the Allegheny County Health Department announced.
“The increase in cases reported today is due to a few factors. This includes: 1) laboratories adding results to the system in batches reflecting tests conducted over several days; 2) probable cases which will continue to increase as the department calls patients back; and, 3) a large amount of testing in communal living sites,” a news release said. “A case is probable when the person displays symptoms of COVID-19 and has had close contact with a confirmed positive case but has not had a test themselves. We are including probable cases to better assess the level of community spread.”
Officials said 178 people have been or are currently being hospitalized, and 4 more deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 47. All deaths in the county have been people between the ages of 56 and 103, the Health Department said.
Here is a breakdown of cases by age group:
- 0-4 years: 2
- 5-12 years: 4
- 13-18 years: 10
- 19-24 years: 76
- 25-49 years: 262
- 50-64 years: 280
- 65+ years: 275
Of the cases, 543 are female and 466 are male.
This is the COVID-19 Daily Update from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) for April 18, 2020. The following data includes all counts since March 14, when the first case was reported in the county. pic.twitter.com/tr1oOJWkef
— Allegheny County Health Department (@HealthAllegheny) April 18, 2020
Directory created to connect businesses to manufacturers of COVID-19 supplies
UPDATE 10:30 a.m.: The Business-to-Business Interchange Directory has been created to connect organizations and businesses directly to manufacturers producing COVID-19-related products and supplies, the Department of Community and Economic Development announced.
“Company and product information provided in the directory were gathered in good faith as a means of connecting Pennsylvania businesses and organizations that are seeking various PPE and other related items to combat the COVID-19 crisis,” a news release said.
Manufacturers of N95 masks, fabric and other masks, and surgical masks are currently included in the directory.
Pitt could have hybrid fall semester
UPDATE 9 a.m.: The University of Pittsburgh might be forced to have a hybrid semester in the fall because of the coronavirus pandemic, Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE reported.
Pitt closed its campuses last month because of COVID-19, moving classes online for the spring semester.
No decisions have been made for the fall, but Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher told TribLIVE it’s possible students will cycle between smaller classes on campus and online, depending on where things stand with the virus.
>>FULL STORY: Pitt could be forced to have hybrid fall semester because of pandemic
Coronavirus in Pennsylvania: Saturday morning
UPDATE 7 a.m.: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday outlined what needs to happen before starting to reopen the state’s economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The plan includes adequate supplies of personal protection equipment, enough coronavirus testing available, plans for swift containment of any new outbreaks and continued limitations for large gatherings.
>>STORY: Gov. Wolf outlines what needs to happen before reopening state economy
Wolf did not provide a timetable on when the reopening plan would be put into place, but did say the plan will happen gradually and regionally.
As of Friday, there were 29,441 cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, 1,919 of which are in western Pennsylvania. There were 756 deaths, 398 of which have occurred among residents in nursing or personal care facilities, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
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