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 18
- 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
Masks now required in Pennsylvania
UPDATE 8:30 p.m. - You now won’t be able to go into a pharmacy or grocery store in Pennsylvania if you aren’t wearing a mask.
Customers who have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask can enter the store without a mask.
Employers are also required to provide masks for workers to wear during their shift.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said customers who enter a business without a mask can be turned away.
She said some stores may have masks to give out and she is confident people will follow these new guidelines.
Business found in violation of the order could face tickets, fines or license suspensions.
The new order went into effect at 8 p.m. tonight.
Click here to read more details about the order.
Port Authority taking added steps to comply with new state order
UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: Port Authority officials said starting at 8 p.m. tonight, people who board without face coverings will be questioned by the operator and will be asked to cover their face while on the vehicle.
“The state’s order clearly means riders should wear face coverings while on transit vehicles,” said Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman. “We want to do our part to uphold this statewide order and protect both our customers and employees.”
They said only people citing economic or health reasons will be exempt.
Children ages two or under will also not be required to wear masks.
Officials said the change will help keep both passengers and employees safe.
Latest efforts, info from PA Department of Health on coronavirus
UPDATE 1:10 p.m.: Dr. Levine, Secretary of the Department of Health, said there are now an additional 276 deaths in people who tested positive for coronavirus and those who are probable positive. Dr. Levine said the deaths did not occur within the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of deaths statewide to 1,112 adults since the outbreak began.
We are reporting a significant increase in #COVID19 deaths today—276.
— PA Department of Health (@PAHealthDept) April 19, 2020
These deaths DID NOT happen overnight.
We've been working to reconcile data with information from several different sources. As we collect data, we also are verifying its accuracy. pic.twitter.com/g9QIvXmk3c
Additionally, there are now 32,284 positive cases. 1,618 healthcare workers have tested positive. As of 10 a.m. Sunday, 2,629 people were hospitalized. 643 people have required a ventilator. Statewide, 45% of hospital beds, 39% of ICU beds and nearly 70% of ventilators are still available. 126,570 people have tested negative in the state so far.
Here is a breakdown of cases in local counties:
- Allegheny Co.: 1,035 cases, 50 deaths, 11,162 negative tests
- Butler Co.: 161 cases, 5 deaths, 1,756 negative tests
- Beaver Co.: 288 cases, 32 deaths, 1,609 negative tests
- Washington Co.: 82 cases, 2 deaths, 1,514 negative tests
- Greene Co.: 24 cases, 322 negative tests
- Fayette Co.: 66 cases, 3 deaths, 1,328 negative tests
- Westmoreland Co.: 284 cases, 20 deaths, 3,382 negative tests
- Armstrong Co.: 38 cases, 2 deaths, 448 negative tests
- Indiana Co.: 51 cases, 4 deaths, 426 negative tests
- Clarion Co.: 18 cases, 1 death, 371 negative tests
- Venango Co.: 6 cases, 188 negative tests
- Forest Co.: 7 cases, 21 negative tests
- Lawrence Co.: 59 cases, 5 deaths, 521 negative tests
- Mercer Co.: 59 cases, 1 death, 439 negative tests.
Here is a breakdown of coronavirus data related to nursing homes and personal care homes:
- Allegheny Co.: 30 facilities, 168 cases among residents, 51 cases among employees, 37 deaths
- Butler Co.: 3 facilities, 10 cases among residents, 9 cases among employees, 2 deaths
- Beaver Co.: 3 facilities, 170 cases among residents, 11 cases among employees, 27 deaths
- Washington Co.: 3 facilities, 4 cases among residents, 1 case among employees, 1 death
- Fayette Co.: 1 facility, 3 cases among residents, 0 cases among employees, 1 death
- Westmoreland Co.: 4 facilities, 81 cases among residents, 21 cases among employees, 17 deaths
- Indiana Co.: 2 facilities, 11 cases among residents, 0 cases among employees, 4 deaths
- Clarion Co.: 1 facility, 1 case among residents, 0 cases among employees, 0 deaths
- Mercer Co.: 1 facility, 1 case among residents, 0 cases among employees, 0 deaths
26 additional cases of COVID-19 in Allegheny County
UPDATE 11:05 a.m.: There are 26 more cases of coronavirus in Allegheny County according to the heath department.
County health officials said the number of cases is 1,035. That includes 1,019 confirmed cases and 16 probable cases.
Officials said they are tracking probable cases, where people are displaying COVID-19 symptoms and have been in close contact with positive case but were not tested, to better assess the level of community spread.
180 people have been hospitalized to date due to coronavirus in the county.
UPMC to begin rescheduling elective surgeries
UPDATE 11:00 a.m.: UPMC officials confirmed to Channel 11 that the hospital system will begin rescheduling elective surgeries.
According to Dr. Don Yealy, chair of emergency medicine at UPMC:
“As we turn the corner in this region, we expect that more people will feel secure and, more importantly, some care that has been postponed will no longer be able to wait without creating a medical emergency. In the current environment, with proper protection and precautions, we believe that we can soon begin to treat patients who postponed needed treatments and procedures.”
Liquor stores offering curbside service; More Port Authority workers test positive
UPDATE 7:20 a.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.”
Click here for more info!
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.
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