Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations continue slow, steady climb in region

Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations have continued a slow but steady climb in the region and throughout the state over the past two months. This week was no exception.

In the past week, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there were 1,343 additional covid-19 cases in Allegheny County, for a daily average of 192. For comparison’s sake, the county averaged 30 cases per day on July 18 and 18 per day on June 18. Since that latter date, the county’s average daily cases have grown by about 967%. Allegheny County has had 106,150 cases overall.

Westmoreland County had 336 additional covid-19 cases in the past week, for a daily average of 48. The county averaged eight cases per day a month ago and 14 two months ago. The average daily case rate has grown by 242% in the past two months. The county’s total now stands at 35,458 cases.

Pennsylvania’s average number of new cases daily has grown almost 583% over the past two months, with a current average of 2,069 per day as of Wednesday. The state had averaged 338 cases on July 18 and 303 on June 18. Overall, the state has reported 1,256,324 cases.

Here’s how other counties in the region fared over the past week, with total cases and their weekly change:

• Armstrong: 6,166 (+76)
• Beaver: 16,245 (+217)
• Butler: 18,286 (+242)
• Fayette: 13,749 (+111)
• Indiana: 6,657 (+77)
• Somerset: 8,253 (+56)
• Washington: 18,622 (+216)

Hospitalizations

Covid-19 hospitalizations climbed from 120 to 191 in Allegheny County over the past week to average 159 per day. The county had averaged 33 covid hospitalizations a month ago and 43 two months ago. There are currently 35 covid-19 patients on ventilators in the county, the highest number since May 1, and 60 patients in an ICU.

In Westmoreland County, covid-19 hospitalizations grew from 13 to 20 in the past week, with one patient on a ventilator and three in the ICU.

Hospitalizations throughout the state climbed by 367 in the past week, rising from 908 to 1,275. There are 332 covid-19 patients in ICUs and 155 requiring a ventilator.

Vaccinations

Allegheny County sits at 56% fully vaccinated and 68.8% of people 18 and older, while Westmoreland is 44.1% fully vaccinated and 53.9% of people 18 and older.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 53.7% of Pennsylvanians are fully vaccinated with 67.6% with at least one dose.

Deaths

The state health department reported 86 covid-related deaths in the past week, with 78 occurring in August, three in July and one each in June, April, March and January, as well as one from May 2020. Overall, the state’s covid-19 death toll reached 28,011, with 17,888 in 2020 and 10,123 this year. Almost 48% of the state’s deaths (13,435) have occurred in long-term care facilities, with Montgomery (1,116) and Allegheny (1,081) the only two counties above 1,000.

The Allegheny County Health Department on Wednesday reported 26 additional deaths, with two last December, three in February, three in March, six in April, three in May, three in June, two in July and four in August. The county’s total reached 2,044. The state, however, put Allegheny County’s total at 2,047, including 15 in the past week. The discrepancy between the two departments hasn’t fully been explained.

Westmoreland County has four additional deaths in the past week, with its total climbing to 788. Beaver, Butler, Indiana and Washington had one apiece, while Armstrong, Fayette and Somerset had no reported deaths.