State reviews new CDC guidelines

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

As Pennsylvania draws closer to a time when the entire state will at least be in the yellow phase of reopening, the Department of Health is taking a close look at some newly revised guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last week, the CDC said coronavirus “does not spread easily” from touching surfaces or objects.

“It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes,” the CDC said. “This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about this virus.”

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said the information is still new and her department is reviewing those guidelines and considering if any changes need to be made.

“We still want people to be very cautious, still clean surfaces and still wash your hands,” she said.

Levine also addressed frustrations that some people seem to have trouble understanding that social distancing and wearing masks have stopped the virus from spreading as much as it could have.

“We want to put that information out as much as we can,” Levine said. “COVID-19 is a very serious public health risk. We know it’s a respiratory virus, spread through droplets and the air and that wearing a mask can be helpful. If we’re all wearing a mask, the community is more protected. We also know that washing hands, using hand sanitizer and social distancing is also very helpful.

“That’s why I’m repeating that message every day because it’s very important.”

Cases

There have now been 68,186 cases of coronavirus in the state, including 2,928 new cases since Friday.

There were 155 new deaths reported, for a total of 5,139 fatalities due to the virus.

Allegheny County now has 1,805 cases, an increase of 66 patients. According to the DOH, there were six new deaths reported and that total is 160. According to the Allegheny County Health Department, there have been four new deaths and the total is 150.

In Fayette County, there was one new case reported for a total of 94 and no new deaths, leaving that total at four.

Washington County reported four new cases, bringing the total to 138, and no new deaths. The number of deaths in Washington County remains at five.

Westmoreland County reported five new cases for a total of 441. According to the DOH, there were no new deaths and that total is 38. Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha also reports no new deaths, and his total remains at 32 fatalities.