For the fifth consecutive day, the Allegheny County Health Department announced a new case count of covid-19 below the 200 mark.
On Monday, authorities reported 180 new cases, the ninth time in the past 10 days that the count has been in the 100; There were 22 cases reported on July 22. To date, the county has reported 7,474 cases of covid-19.
Of the 180 cases reported in the last 24 hours, 178 are confirmed cases and two are probable.
In the past 10 days, the county has averaged 148 new cases per day. That’s 53 cases less than the county average in the previous 10 days.
The new batch of positive results comes from 1,929 tests conducted July 9-26. Of those positive cases, all but two were confirmed. New cases range in age from 2 to 101 years with a median age of 45 years.
The county reported two new hospitalizations, the third consecutive day that number has been low. After seeing 53 people hospitalized July 22-24, the county reported only 10 hospitalizations in the past three days. In all, the county has seen 583 people admitted to hospitals for covid-19.
No new deaths have been added to the county’s 222 total since the pandemic began in March.
Of the Allegheny County residents who died from covid-19, the majority (81%) were age 70 or older, while 11.7% were between the ages of 60 and 69.
The age group that has tested most positive is still 20-29 (11%). However, they are also the most tested (18,922 individuals evaluated), and are the age group that has most recovered, with 1,319 people considered “recovered” from 2,081 cases.
On its website, the county says, “Recovery is a CDC estimate … based on one of two conditions: 32 days have passed after a person was hospitalized for covid-19 and has not died or 14 days have passed. after a person tested positive … and they weren’t hospitalized. “
To date, there have been results in 4,497 cases: 4,275 are assumed to have recovered and 222 died. Among the cases that have had a result, 95% have recovered. There are 2,804 cases without an assumed result.
At the Allegheny County Jail, authorities report that another inmate and another staff member tested positive.
A total of 34 inmates tested positive as of March 13, the county reported. Of these, two are still on the premises, and 31 recovered or were released. A total of 300 inmates have been evaluated, with 259 negative results for a positivity rate of 11.3%. The county reported that six tests are still pending. To date, no inmate has required hospitalization.
So far, 11 jail employees have tested positive, and eight have recovered. In total, 90 staff members have tested negative with four tests still pending, for a positivity rate of 12.2%.
County health officials have said the large volume of new cases has created problems with the results. On its website, the health department has published an information sheet of what to expect for those who are being evaluated and those who have been in contact with them.
Health officials continue to urge residents to wear masks, wash their hands, and maintain physical distance from others to keep the community safe.
Chris Pastrick is a digital producer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Chris at 412-320-7898, [email protected] or via Twitter.
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