7 virus deaths in Westmoreland County

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Allegheny County’s skyrocketing COVID-19 case count has been making headlines for the last week or so, but Westmoreland County hit a grim record Thursday when it reported seven virus-related deaths — the most in a single day since the pandemic began.

Westmoreland County saw an additional 259 cases Thursday — the third time in a week new cases topped 200 — for a new total of 6,908. The seven new fatalities bring the county’s total COVID-19 deaths to 150, with 50 reported in the past 21 days.

In Allegheny County, the number of new cases broke the 600 mark for a second day in a row with 609 reported Thursday, raising the total to 22,043 since March. There was one new death for a new total of 465. 

With Thursday’s figures, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties are both in the top five highest counties statewide in terms of new COVID cases.

The Allegheny County Health Department said 13 of its new cases are a week old and were from a local university, but didn’t identify which one. The department said close contacts of the cases were quickly identified and quarantined. 

Washington County also had a high number of cases Thursday, adding 153 for a new total of 3,493. It also added three deaths for a second day in a row for a new total of 56.

Fayette County added 45 cases Thursday for a new total of 1,547 and no new deaths. That total remains at 17.

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