Allegheny County attributes low number of new covid cases to limited testing

Allegheny County saw its lowest number of new coronavirus cases since November, according to new data from the county’s health department.

On Monday the health department reported 193 new cases, the lowest number since 189 were added on Nov. 5. The county also added 401 cases on Sunday. (State and county officials haven’t officially updated totals on Sundays for months, leading to two-day reports on Monday.)

The health department says the low number of new cases probably stems from limited testing last week because of the holidays. “It likely does not reflect a decrease in the spread of the virus,” according to the health department. “ACHD does anticipate an increase in new cases due to the holidays.”

The new cases bring the county’s total to 51,453. Allegheny topped 50,000 cases on Christmas, becoming the second county in the state to reach that mark. Philadelphia still has the most, with 85,808.

Of the 594 cases reported in the past two days, 575 are confirmed from 2,347 PCR tests, with 19 probable cases. The positive test results range from Dec. 18 to Dec. 27, with five of the positive tests more than a week old.

The new cases —303 female and 291 male — range from 1 month to 98 years, with a median age of 45. Here’s how they break down by age:

• 0-4: 15
• 5-12: 28
• 13-18: 28
• 19-24: 67
• 25-49: 202
• 50-64: 144
• 65+: 110

According to the state’s covid-19 dashboard, there are currently 730 coronavirus patients hospitalized in the county, a decline of 21 from Sunday’s 751. The county has 913 ventilators, with 365 in use, including 104 by covid-19 patients. There are also 180 covid-19 patients in Allegheny County intensive care units, with 11.8% of county ICU beds available.

The county reported four more deaths, ranging from Dec. 18 to Dec. 27, bringing the county’s total to 857. Three were in their 70s and one was in the 90s, with two of the deaths associated with long-term care facilities. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports 925 deaths in the county, with the discrepancy between the two health departments attributed to different reporting methods.