Coronavirus category, Page 260
Illinois and New York join California in ordering lockdowns
Illinois and New York state joined California on Friday in ordering all residents to stay in their homes unless they have vital reasons to go out, restricting the movement of more than 70 million Americans in the most sweeping measures taken yet in the U.S. to contain the coronavirus. The...
Dow drops more than 900 points, ending worst week since 2008
Wall Street ended the week the same way it began: in full retreat from the coronavirus. Stocks fell sharply and the price of oil sank Friday as federal and state governments moved to shut down bigger and bigger swaths of the nation’s economy in the hope of limiting the spread...
Allegheny County sheriff’s deputy tests negative for covid-19; quarantined deputies to return to work
An Allegheny County sheriff’s deputy who was concerned he might have exposed fellow officers to the coronavirus has tested negative, officials said Friday. Fifteen deputies who had begun self-quarantining in case they had been exposed will return to work Monday, Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus said. “The affected deputy will remain...
Horse racing ‘living on borrowed time’ as it grapples with risks running during pandemicVideo
Horse racing is quickly learning it is not totally immune to the effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on other sports, and now it’s grappling with the risks of continuing operations. The Louisiana Derby for now is still set for Saturday, the world’s richest day of races is scheduled to...
Internet service sagging amid coronavirus quarantine? Here’s what to do.
With so much of the U.S. workforce — and their families — cooped up at home to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, it’s not a huge surprise that home internet is showing the strain. If you’ve had a business videoconference stutter while your teenagers play Call of Duty...
Norwin school officials: No coronavirus here
Contrary to prior reports, Norwin School District officials say there has not been a confirmed case of the coronavirus in the district. In an updated public statement late Friday afternoon, Norwin School District Superintendent Jeff Taylor said he was informed by emergency managers that reports of a coronavirus case in...
Marbles, obscure sports rule in coronavirus pandemicVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Welcome to the Marble Universe, where the rushing of glass balls down race tracks, around sandy beach corners or getting thumped by fidget spinners has suddenly become as captivating as any dunk contest. Losing your marbles looking for sports to watch during the coronavirus pandemic? Get in on...
‘Uncharted waters’: Funerals taking higher emotional toll amid coronavirus pandemic
Funeral services and viewings are designed to offer comfort and support to people grieving the deaths of loved ones. Navigating the process under coronavirus restrictions presents a unique challenge to mourners and to funeral homes serving them. “We’re in uncharted waters. Every day the game changes,” said Terry Graft, owner,...
Pittsburgh Langley staff member tests positive for coronavirus
A Pittsburgh Langley staff member has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Pittsburgh Public Schools announced Friday. The district announced early Wednesday that a staffer at Langley was being tested for covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The district closed Langley’s grab-and-go lunches that day after learning of the...
Flight 93 National Memorial tree planting postponed until 2021Video
The annual Plant a Tree at Flight 93 event has been postponed until next year. Held at the Flight 93 National Memorial each spring, it typically fills its volunteer slots early. Many organizations and individuals return year after year. The 2019 event drew about 400 people planning to plant more...
Protective gear headed to Westmoreland as confirmed coronavirus cases grows to 4
Officials say Westmoreland County now has four confirmed coronavirus cases after two were added on Friday. There is no other information available on any of the cases. In the meantime, a shipment of personal protective equipment was expected to arrive Friday for Westmoreland County firefighters, police and ambulance personnel, said...
Italy sees biggest day-to-day rise in coronavirus deaths
ROME — Italy has recorded its highest day-to-day-rise in the number of deaths of people infected with the new coronavirus. Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli said Friday the country recorded 627 more deaths in the 24 hours since Italy surpassed China on Thursday as the nation with the most COVID-19-related...
All Pennsylvania standardized testing canceled amid coronavirus pandemic
All Pennsylvania System of State Assessment (PSSA), Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) and Keystone exams have been canceled for the 2019-2020 school year amid the covid-19 pandemic, the state Department of Education announced Friday. “Our school communities are operating within unprecedented conditions,” said Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera. “Schools...
Penguins partner with Giant Eagle, Primanti Bros. to aid arena, restaurant staffers
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced a partnership with Giant Eagle and Primanti Bros. to offer temporary employment opportunities to staffers at PPG Paints Arena and area restaurants impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This partnership will allow those individuals to pursue employment with area Giant Eagle locations. “Supermarkets, pharmacies and fuel...
California locks down 40 million as Europe’s health system buckles
California’s 40 million people were all but confined to their homes Friday in the nation’s biggest lockdown yet, as America’s governors watched with growing alarm as southern Europe buckled under the strain of the coronavirus outbreak. Gasping patients filled the wards of hospitals in Spain and Italy, and the global...
U.S. and Mexico to curb border travel to control coronavirus
SAN DIEGO — Mexico and the U.S. announced plans Friday to sharply limit travel over their busy shared border as part of efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus. President Donald Trump and Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said the two governments agreed to prohibit recreational and tourist travel,...
High-stakes negotiations begin on $1 trillion economic rescue
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trump administration officials launched high-stakes negotiations Friday with Senate Republicans and Democrats racing to draft a $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package amid the coronavirus outbreak. It’s the biggest effort yet from Washington to shore up households and the U.S. economy as the pandemic...
Trump moves on invoking powers to spur virus supplies
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to get needed medical supplies on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak, mobilizing the federal government to marshal the private sector to combat the pandemic. Trump had said earlier in the week he would tap the act as...
UPMC stands ground, will continue elective surgeries despite Wolf’s orderVideo
UPMC doctors on Friday defended their decision to keep performing elective surgeries throughout its hospitals during the covid-19 outbreak, saying the procedures cannot always be safely delayed. “This is not northern Italy. We are not Wuhan right now,” Dr. Graham Snyder, UPMC chief of infection prevention, said during a news...
Philips Respironics hiring at Murrysville, Upper Burrell plants to meet demand for ventilators
Philips Respironics, a medical manufacturer that produces ventilators and related breathing equipment, is increasing production and hiring assemblers at its Murrysville and Upper Burrell plants to meet demand spurred by the spreading coronavirus. The company is recruiting for more than 50 positions for assemblers on all shifts at the two...
Amid coronavirus crisis, Pirates donate $50,000 to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
The MLB spring training and season have been halted by the coronavirus pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped the Pittsburgh Pirates from giving back to those in need. The Pirates and Pirates Charities announced on Friday a $50,000 donation to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, a nonprofit organization that distributes...
Allegheny Co. reports 10 new coronavirus cases, Westmoreland adds 2 as Pa. total rises to 268Video
Allegheny County reported 10 new coronavirus cases and Westmoreland County added two, according to information released Friday. The 10 new cases bring Allegheny County’s total to 28. Five of those are hospitalized and the rest are in isolation at home. Westmoreland County reported two new cases, for a total of...
Pittsburgh police chief frustrated by lack of communication from Gov. Wolf over shutdownVideo
Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert said Friday the bureau learned about Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to shut down non-life-sustaining businesses on the news Thursday night and said communication from the state has been lackluster. The governor’s order stating “non-life-sustaining” businesses in Pennsylvania close to help slow the spread of the...
Westmoreland, Monroeville malls closed per Wolf’s order
Westmoreland and Monroeville malls announced Friday they have closed in accordance with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that all non-life-sustaining businesses temporarily shutter to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants at the mall will be permitted to remain open for take-out or delivery orders only. Both malls, which are...
10,000 sandwiches to be distributed in Oakmont on Monday
Thousands of sandwiches made of donated deli meat and cheese will be handed out Monday to people struggling for food in Oakmont during the coronavirus pandemic. Eric Chaffin, of the Chaffin Luhana Foundation, said he didn’t want to see kids go hungry as their schools closed in an effort to...
