The Allegheny County Health Department has released additional information on the 244 new COVID-19 cases reported in the past week, saying the cases were overwhelmingly among younger people who were traveling, visiting bars and restaurants, and out in the community. Officials said the new cases ranged in age from four months to 97 years old, with a median age of 31 years old. The Health Department said two-thirds of the new cases were among those aged 19 to 49 years old. The Health Department said the people they contacted for case investigations reported traveling all over the country, including Myrtle Beach, Houston, Nashville and places in Florida such as Miami, Tampa and Naples. Mark Roberts is the director of Pitt’s Public Health Dynamics lab. He says he’s concerned about this rise in cases, but at this point doesn’t fear a larger spike in cases like other states.”It’s not the virus. It’s our response to the virus that causes the spike. It’s not the virus getting stronger or weaker, it’s how we respond,” Roberts said.He thinks a slower, phased reopening helped establish a testing and tracing infrastructure that will hopefully eliminate any large-scale spikes.Roberts said people need to continue social distancing and trying to avoid large groups. Roberts added that research shows wearing masks has been helpful in both stopping the spread of the virus, and protecting the mask wearer.”There’s a lot more evidence that masks matter to reduce the transmission,” Roberts said.Officials said the people with new cases told the Health Department they had recently been to bars and restaurants all around the county. Some of the new cases include staff at local bars and restaurants. Officials said that of the 15 different bars and restaurants new cases reported recently visiting or working at, five facilities were reported multiple times.The Health Department said the Food Safety Program has been in contact with restaurants where employees have tested positive and where there have been complaints about people not wearing masks. Officials said small numbers of new cases have also reported going to church, family get-togethers, their kids’ games or activities, and protests. “The department has not identified any apparent clusters in the travel destinations or activities. What neither Health Department investigators nor COVID-positive residents know is exactly where or when people contracted the virus. They don’t know if they were exposed before a vacation, while on vacation, or after returning home. They don’t know if they were exposed at a bar or restaurant, or if they were exposed before or after going out,” officials from the Health Department said in a news release. The Health Department said case investigators are calling each one of these new cases, as they have done with every new case in the county throughout the pandemic, to learn where they have been and who they have had close contact with. Contact tracers are then following up with those contacts and advising them to quarantine for 14 days. Officials said contact tracing can help reduce the spread of the virus and keep more people from getting sick. There are many other ways to further limit the spread.The Health Department said that if you are going to travel or have vacations planned:•Consider rescheduling, changing or postponing plans if the destination is seeing a recent surge in COVID-19 cases•Avoid crowded locations and close contact with others•Wear a mask even if they aren’t required•Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. This is especially important after being in public places, touching high-use surfaces such as door knobs and counters, and before and after eating, drinking or smokingWhen you return from your travels, especially if it was to a COVID-19 hotspot, consider:•Self-quarantining for 14 days, if possible. It can take that long for the virus to incubate and for you to start showing symptoms•Get tested if you are worried that you were exposed to COVID-19 during your travels. Possible points of exposure include beaches, boardwalks, businesses, bars, restaurants, airplanes, trains, hotels or buses.•Wait at least a few days after the possible exposure to get tested even if you aren’t showing symptoms.•During that time, limit contact with others and wear a mask whenever you’re around someone else.•Many places in Allegheny County offer testing to people worried they were exposed, even if they aren’t showing symptoms. These include the Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rite Aid, CVS and MedExpress.•A map of testing locations in Allegheny County is available here The Health Department said everyone should remember to:•Get tested if you’re sick and stay home•Limit trips out of the house•Wear a mask if you do go out. Masks are required in all businesses. You may only remove your mask to eat or drink•Avoid large groups and keep 6 feet away from others•Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequentlyThe Health Department continues to track and investigate all cases of COVID-19 and reminds residents to stay safe.
The Allegheny County Health Department has released additional information on the 244 new COVID-19 cases reported in the past week, saying the cases were overwhelmingly among younger people who were traveling, visiting bars and restaurants, and out in the community.
Officials said the new cases ranged in age from four months to 97 years old, with a median age of 31 years old. The Health Department said two-thirds of the new cases were among those aged 19 to 49 years old.
The Health Department said the people they contacted for case investigations reported traveling all over the country, including Myrtle Beach, Houston, Nashville and places in Florida such as Miami, Tampa and Naples.
Mark Roberts is the director of Pitt’s Public Health Dynamics lab. He says he’s concerned about this rise in cases, but at this point doesn’t fear a larger spike in cases like other states.
“It’s not the virus. It’s our response to the virus that causes the spike. It’s not the virus getting stronger or weaker, it’s how we respond,” Roberts said.
He thinks a slower, phased reopening helped establish a testing and tracing infrastructure that will hopefully eliminate any large-scale spikes.
Roberts said people need to continue social distancing and trying to avoid large groups. Roberts added that research shows wearing masks has been helpful in both stopping the spread of the virus, and protecting the mask wearer.
“There’s a lot more evidence that masks matter to reduce the transmission,” Roberts said.
Officials said the people with new cases told the Health Department they had recently been to bars and restaurants all around the county. Some of the new cases include staff at local bars and restaurants. Officials said that of the 15 different bars and restaurants new cases reported recently visiting or working at, five facilities were reported multiple times.
The Health Department said the Food Safety Program has been in contact with restaurants where employees have tested positive and where there have been complaints about people not wearing masks.
Officials said small numbers of new cases have also reported going to church, family get-togethers, their kids’ games or activities, and protests.
“The department has not identified any apparent clusters in the travel destinations or activities. What neither Health Department investigators nor COVID-positive residents know is exactly where or when people contracted the virus. They don’t know if they were exposed before a vacation, while on vacation, or after returning home. They don’t know if they were exposed at a bar or restaurant, or if they were exposed before or after going out,” officials from the Health Department said in a news release.
The Health Department said case investigators are calling each one of these new cases, as they have done with every new case in the county throughout the pandemic, to learn where they have been and who they have had close contact with. Contact tracers are then following up with those contacts and advising them to quarantine for 14 days.
Officials said contact tracing can help reduce the spread of the virus and keep more people from getting sick. There are many other ways to further limit the spread.
The Health Department said that if you are going to travel or have vacations planned:
•Consider rescheduling, changing or postponing plans if the destination is seeing a recent surge in COVID-19 cases
•Avoid crowded locations and close contact with others
•Wear a mask even if they aren’t required
•Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. This is especially important after being in public places, touching high-use surfaces such as door knobs and counters, and before and after eating, drinking or smoking
When you return from your travels, especially if it was to a COVID-19 hotspot, consider:
•Self-quarantining for 14 days, if possible. It can take that long for the virus to incubate and for you to start showing symptoms
•Get tested if you are worried that you were exposed to COVID-19 during your travels. Possible points of exposure include beaches, boardwalks, businesses, bars, restaurants, airplanes, trains, hotels or buses.
•Wait at least a few days after the possible exposure to get tested even if you aren’t showing symptoms.
•During that time, limit contact with others and wear a mask whenever you’re around someone else.
•Many places in Allegheny County offer testing to people worried they were exposed, even if they aren’t showing symptoms. These include the Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rite Aid, CVS and MedExpress.
•A map of testing locations in Allegheny County is available here
The Health Department said everyone should remember to:
•Get tested if you’re sick and stay home
•Limit trips out of the house
•Wear a mask if you do go out. Masks are required in all businesses. You may only remove your mask to eat or drink
•Avoid large groups and keep 6 feet away from others
•Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently
The Health Department continues to track and investigate all cases of COVID-19 and reminds residents to stay safe.
