COVID-19 cases trend downward over the weekend
By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania continued to drop over the weekend with 1,676 reported Saturday and 1,178 reported Sunday.
For the second day in a row, the state reported 78 deaths Saturday. It was the third day in the past week in which 78 people died. Sunday’s numbers were much improved with 13 deaths reported.
There have now been a total of 22,833 positive cases of the virus in the state and 507 deaths.
Allegheny County has reported 857 positive cases, an increase of 69 since Friday, and 19 deaths. One person died over the weekend.
In Fayette County, there have been five more positive cases and two more patients passed away over the weekend. The total number of patients is now 54 and three people have died.
In Westmoreland County, there are 21 new cases, bringing the total to 223. The state Department of Health has reported six deaths as of Sunday. However, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha, there have been 12 deaths due to coronavirus.
In Washington County, the state reports there are 68 cases, an increase of two over the weekend.
The state has no deaths attributed to the county.
But a Donora man, Devin Taquino, 47, died of COVID-19 Friday night, according to his family.
Taquino was hospitalized for just over two weeks, initially at Mon Valley Hospital and then at West Penn Hospital in Allegheny County.
The state Department of Health continues to cite Washington County as having no deaths related to the virus in the most recent figures released Sunday.
Taquino’s death will likely be attributed to Allegheny County because he died in a hospital there.
Donora Mayor Jim McDonough wants residents to understand now is not the time to try to return to normalcy.
“There are multiple cases in Donora,” the mayor said. “I’ve been saying we have to assume there are cases everywhere. Well, not only are they everywhere, they’re deadly. I need people to know it’s definitely here.”
Devin Taquino leaves behind his wife, Becky, and three children, Jonathon, Madyline and Kristofer, in addition to his parents, Jeff Taquino and Karen Howland, and his brother, Rob Taquino.
“We’re all in this as a community, we’ll mourn it together,” McDonough said. “I don’t want anyone else to get this.”
McDonough compared COVID-19 coming into the borough and taking the life of one if its residents to the killer smog of 1948. This time, he said, he and the council are trying to stay ahead of the pandemic.
He said some may consider actions he’s taken to be excessive, but he “will take any and all steps necessary to protect the residents of Donora.”
All Pennsylvania residents are under a stay-at-home order until at least April 30 and schools have been closed through the end of the school year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have asked people to wear masks in public to stop the spread of the illness and to stay home as much as possible.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has been asking residents to limit grocery trips to one person, once a week, in an effort to stop the spread.
