Washington County added to stay-at-home list

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Washington County, which had 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday, is now under Gov. Tom Wolf’s and stay-at-home order.

Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine extended the order Saturday to include Beaver, Centre and Washington counties, bringing the total to 22 under the mandate. Allegheny County, which had 265 total confirmed cases Sunday, and Westmoreland County, which had 47, are also under the order.

Wolf said the measure was to “seek relief to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19.”

The order is in effect until April 6.

Residents of the affected counties are permitted to leave their homes for work if they are involved in a life-sustaining business or one that has a waiver from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. 

Residents can also leave the house if they are volunteering for a program such as Meals on Wheels; are going to a grocery store, pharmacy, healthcare provider or to take care of a family member or pet; are going to pick up educational materials or take-out food; along with other reasons that can be found on Gov. Wolf’s website.

Washington County has established a Public Inquiry line to receive questions and distribute information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be reached via email at PublicInformation@co.washington.pa.us.

As a result of the stay-at-home order, the Charleroi Fire Department has canceled fish frys for the remainder of the Lenten season.

“We are very sorry but we would like to remind everyone to STAY HOME and follow the governor’s guidelines,” Chief Robert Whiten wrote on Facebook. The department has also canceled its monthly lottery ticket for April. There will be no tickets sold. 

COVID-19 by
the numbers

Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 toll jumped by triple digits again on Sunday as the state Department of Health reported 643 new cases, bringing the total to 3,394 in 58 counties. 

The DOH reported four new deaths among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 38. Most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older, DOH records indicate. There have been no pediatric deaths as of Sunday.

Levine said 30,061 patients have tested negative as of yesterday.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date statewide, the age breakdown is:

• Less than 1% are 4 and younger.

• Less than 1% are aged 5-12.

• 1% are aged 13-18.

• 10% are aged 19-24.

• 41% are aged 25-49.

• Nearly 27% are aged 50-64.

• 19% are age 65 or older.

Allegheny County Health Department’s COVID-19 website shows two cases each of the coronavirus in Glassport and McKeesport and one case each in Elizabeth and White Oak boroughs and in Clairton. 

The age group in the county with the highest number of COVID-19 diagnoses is the 25-to-49 bracket, which accounted for 120 of the county’s confirmed cases as of Sunday.

Thirty-six Allegheny County senior citizens above 65 have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Sunday, according to ACHD.

There have been seven children age 18 who have contracted the virus.

“The department is still tracing the contacts of people who have tested positive and is recommending self-quarantine when needed,” ACHD said in a statement Sunday. “We strongly urge all people in Allegheny County to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus in our community.”