Jamie Martines stories
Indoor air purification systems play supporting role in covid-19 prevention measures
A mask mandate, a no-smoking policy and a suspension of indoor dining were among the measures Rivers Casino on Pittsburgh’s North Shore took to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus when it reopened in early July. That same week, the World Health Organization acknowledged airborne transmission of the virus, particularly...
U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb: Investigate state health department over coronavirus oversight at Brighton Rehab
U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb on Tuesday renewed his criticism of the Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County, calling for an additional investigation into how the Pennsylvania Department of Health oversaw the facility during the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter dated Monday to the federal Centers for Medicare &...
Women with ties to Pittsburgh hired to help Joe Biden’s Pennsylvania campaign
Two staff members with ties to Pittsburgh-area politics will help to lead former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in Pennsylvania, the campaign announced Monday. Nikkilia Lu, a political organizer and strategist who served as the Western Pennsylvania political director for Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ and the Pennsylvania...
Ross nursing home reports 39 new coronavirus cases
A Ross nursing home is reporting a coronavirus outbreak among more than three dozen residents, according to data last updated on the facility’s website Friday. The ManorCare Health Services North Hills location, one of 42 ManorCare facilities in Pennsylvania, is licensed for 200 beds. The facility previously reported fewer than...
School officials: Beaver, Central Catholic athletes test positive for coronavirus
Two high school athletes in the region tested positive Sunday for the coronavirus and officials at both schools have taken steps to protect other students. A Central Catholic High School football player tested positive Sunday. School officials say the recent case is not indicative of a cluster of cases across...
Onions sold at Giant Eagle included in nationwide recall
Onions sold at Pittsburgh-area Giant Eagle and Market District locations are included in a nationwide recall related to potential salmonella contamination. Giant Eagle posted the alert about Thomson International and Onions52 brand products on its website Sunday. Giant Eagle shoppers who have purchased onions included in the recall between now...
Tornadoes possible as severe thunderstorm watch issued for Pittsburgh area
Pittsburgh and communities south of the city are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Those areas could experience isolated tornadoes, hail and high winds. “What’s making it unpredictable is how much heating is going to occur,” said Jason Frazier, meteorologist with...
Covid-19 testing of all nursing home residents, staff complete, Pa. health department says
All of Pennsylvania’s 693 nursing homes have completed at least one round of covid-19 testing for all residents and staff, Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine announced Tuesday. This first round of testing will help to prevent further spread of the virus by detecting residents and staff who...
State: Brighton Rehab nursing home failed to get proper approval to use hydroxychloroquine on residents
Residents of a Beaver County nursing home that is the site of one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the country were given an experimental drug without approval from the state health department, inspection records show. Hydroxychloroquine, typically used to treat malaria, was administered to 205 of the 435 residents...
Report: White House warns Pittsburgh, other cities to get ‘aggressive’ against coronavirus
The White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator said Pittsburgh and 10 other U.S. cities must take “aggressive” steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, the Center for Public Integrity reported. Dr. Deborah Birx called out Pittsburgh — along with Baltimore, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New...
Pa. nursing home data used to track covid-19 deaths, cases riddled with errors
Data posted online this week by the Pennsylvania Department of Health show 76,336 residents at an Elk County nursing home have died from covid-19. The home is licensed to house 138 residents. The state listed 133 deaths at an Erie facility that previously reported no cases among residents or staff....
Allegheny County Council rejects certain coronavirus testing, ‘less-lethal’ weapons ban
Allegheny County Council voted down two bills Tuesday — one intended to expand coronavirus testing at county facilities, and the other banning the use of “less-lethal” weapons by law enforcement. Both bills were sponsored by council members Liv Bennett, D-Northview Heights, and at-large representative Bethany Hallam, D-Ross. The coronavirus testing...
About 50% of Pa. nursing homes still have not completed universal testing of residents, staff
With nine days to go before a July 24 deadline, about half of the state’s nursing homes have completed mandated testing of all residents and staff, according to data released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday. Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine on June 8, about five...
Pennsylvania health department puts additional coronavirus restrictions on hold
Plans to restrict dining and gatherings in some Southwestern Pennsylvania counties where covid-19 cases have increased have been put on hold following discussions with local leaders last week, Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Monday. “We had a robust discussion, but none of that influenced our decision,”...
Family of Brighton Rehab employee sues over covid-19 death; federal lawsuit dropped
The family of a longtime employee at Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County is suing the facility over her death from covid-19. Elizabeth A. Wiles, of Rochester, Beaver County, worked as a Brighton housekeeper for nearly 30 years. She died May 10 at age 69 after a covid-19...
Feds to fine Brighton nursing home at least $62K for coronavirus response
Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center is facing more than $62,000 in fines related to a federal investigation into how the Beaver County facility handled the coronavirus pandemic. The fines are related to infection control issues at the facility. “Some of the deficiencies we found was that PPE (protective personal equipment)...
Pa. Health Department to require universal coronavirus testing at nursing homes
Universal testing for the novel coronavirus is now required at all Pennsylvania nursing homes, according to an order issued Monday by Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine. The order requires nursing homes to test all residents and staff for the coronavirus by July 24. “Our goal with implementing this testing...
Fire destroys playgrounds at Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh
School leadership at Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood vowed to rebuild “bigger and bolder and better” after a fire broke out at the school’s two playgrounds Saturday night. There was no damage to the school building and no other signs of possible vandalism were found, Imani Christian...
9th day of protests in Pittsburgh as marchers call for police reform
The ninth straight day of demonstrations in Pittsburgh came to a close in Market Square on Sunday with protesters calling on city officials to meet with them to discuss police department reforms. “Chief of police, we’re asking you for a sit down,” said Kyna James, one of four leaders of...
Peaceful crowd shuts down Bakery Square during 8th day of Pittsburgh protests
Protesters took to the streets of Pittsburgh for the eighth day in a row Saturday, blocking streets in Larimer, East Liberty and Shadyside for much of the afternoon. Hundreds of people started to gather at the Bakery Square shopping center in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood around 3 p.m., blocking Penn Avenue...
Westmoreland County adds 1 new coronavirus case, no deaths
Westmoreland County reported one new coronavirus case and no new deaths Saturday. This leaves the total number of deaths at 38 and raises the number of cases to 457 countywide. Coroner Ken Bacha is reporting 32 deaths occurred in the county. That tally has not changed since May 7 as...
Pennsylvania adds 701 new coronavirus cases, 45 deaths
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported 45 new deaths and 701 additional cases of the coronavirus. The state has now had 75,086 total cases and 5,931 deaths. Deaths have been recorded in 55 of the state’s 67 counties, and every county has had a positive case. More than...
Protest fallout: 46 arrests involve Western Pa. residents; National Guard ready to move; man suspected of inciting ID’d
Violence that erupted in Pittsburgh after hours of peaceful protests was the result of actions by a relatively small group of people, city and state officials said Sunday. A day later, though, it was still unclear who those individuals are and whether they are affiliated with specific groups. Authorities said...
Pennsylvania school districts will reopen for fall 2020
There’s “no question” that Pennsylvania school districts will physically reopen this fall, Gov. Tom Wolf said Friday. “Schooling will look different,” Wolf said. “You’ll probably have more online learning and maybe less classroom learning, there might be fewer students in each classroom.” The Pennsylvania Department of Education is expected to...
Westmoreland County adds 1 new coronavirus case, no new deaths
One new covid-19 case was reported in Westmoreland County on Friday, bringing the countywide total to 444. No new deaths were reported. That leaves the countywide total at 38, according to data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Allegheny County reported 19 additional cases of the coronavirus Friday, bringing...
