Allegheny County reports 177 new covid-19 cases, 5 new hospitalizations

Megan Guza
Friday, July 3, 2020 12:02 p.m. | Friday, July 3, 2020 12:02 p.m.

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Nate Smallwood | Tribune-Review

Medical professionals from Allegheny Health Network work at a mobile COVID-19 testing site outside the Alma Illery Medical Center in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

Allegheny County Health officials reported 177 new covid-19 cases Friday, representing a slight dip after a record-setting 233 on Thursday, but still far above what the county was seeing just two weeks ago.

Five more people were hospitalized since Thursday’s 11 a.m. data was released. The running county case-count stands at 3,280.

While county health officials reported no new deaths, the state Department of Health reported an increase of three covid-19 deaths in Allegheny, which would bring the total to 190.

It is the fourth straight day of new case counts in the triple digits — something not seen in Allegheny County until this week. The first case was reported in Pennsylvania on March 6, and the first cases in Allegheny County came eight days later.

The Department of Health reported 166 new cases in Allegheny County, though that department counts new cases identified between 12 a.m. Thursday and 12 a.m. Friday. Overall, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine reported 667 new cases across the state. Allegheny County’s cases made up about a quarter of the state’s new case count.

While the number of tests being administered has risen over the past several months, the percent-positive rate, until recently, held fairly steady. It remained at or below 5% for nearly all of May and most of June. On June 15, 1% of 875 people tested for covid-19 were found to be positive. Ten days later, 9% of 1,084 tested were positive.

The percent of positive tests reached 10% for the last five days of June.

Individuals who make up the latest round of new cases range in age from 1-year-old to 90 years old, according to county data, and the median age is 28. The median age for much of the week had held at 29.

County officials, following Thursday’s 233 new cases, ordered all bars, restaurants and casinos shut down, save for takeout and delivery. That decision came days after bars and restaurants had been ordered to cease on-site alcohol consumption for the time being.