Westmoreland County surpasses 500 COVID-19 deaths

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com

Westmoreland County crossed the threshold of 500 deaths due to COVID-19 Wednesday, setting a grim new record.
There were 11 new deaths reported Wednesday, bringing the new total to 502. The county ended 2020 with 428 deaths due to the virus, and is averaging more than five fatalities a day through the first two weeks of the year.
Westmoreland County reported 277 new coronavirus patients Wednesday for a new total of 22,510. There are currently 152 patients hospitalized, with 20 in ICU beds and nine on ventilators. There are 22% of ICU beds still available.
The Allegheny County Health Department reported 74 new deaths Wednesday, but attributed all but one of those to a backlog from the state Department of Health and said 73 cases were from December. The new ACHD total is 1,178 deaths. The state DOH reports there have been 1,253 deaths due to the virus.
They both agree there have been 62,439 total cases of the virus, representing an increase of 670 cases Wednesday.
In Allegheny County, 501 people are hospitalized with 181 patients in ICU beds and 68 of those on ventilators. A little less than 14% of ICU beds remain available.

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