Coronavirus category, Page 263
Mnuchin: Family of 4 could get $3K under virus relief planVideo
WASHINGTON — The first federal checks to families could be $3,000 for a family of four under the White House proposal to unleash $1 trillion to shore up households and the U.S. economy amid the coronavirus outbreak. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the “checks in the mail” would...
Point Park University postpones spring graduation ceremonies
Point Park University postponed graduate hooding and commencement ceremonies scheduled for April 25. School President Paul Hennigan announced the decision Thursday morning. “I understand this news will disappoint many people, and I wish circumstances were different, but we must make the responsible decision to postpone the ceremonies,” Hennigan said in...
Carnegie Mellon allows students to convert classes to pass/fail
Carnegie Mellon University is allowing students to convert any of their online courses to pass/fail grading. “The decision to allow this flexibility is a direct acknowledgement of this unprecedented situation,” Provost Jim Garrett wrote in a letter to campus this week. Normally, according to the CMU website, students may take...
Are Western Pennsylvania hospitals prepared for the coronavirus?
If the coronavirus pandemic spreads as predicted, Western Pennsylvania hospitals will be woefully underprepared, according to a recent study. But one regional hospital system, UPMC, is confident it can handle the volume. “We anticipate that most patients with suspected or confirmed covid-19 will not need to be admitted and will...
Allegheny County reports 6 new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 18
The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday reported six new cases of covid-19, increasing the number of cases in the county from 12 to 18. Some of those patients have acquired the virus through community spread, health department Director Dr. Debra Bogen said during a press call. “Similar to what...
‘Quarantine shaming’: U.S. navigates radical new social normsVideo
Ryan Winkle, the chairman of Arizona’s Asian Chamber of Commerce, didn’t see much downside to attending a small dinner at a local restaurant to bolster the business and bring together other leaders to discuss how to help Asian-American eateries devastated by the coronavirus. That was, at least, until he posted...
No free ice at Rita’s locations on first day of spring
The first day of spring will be celebrated later at Rita’s Italian Ice locations. The annual free ice giveaway set for Thursday is postponed amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, according to a post on the restaurant’s website. It’s a precautionary move, the post said. The locations, about 20 of...
Pittsburgh Milk Bank director: ‘Donor milk is life-saving medicine’
The head of a Pittsburgh breast milk bank is encouraging healthy mothers to donate milk to families in need, as demand increases during the coronavirus pandemic. Denise O’Connor is executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank, based in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. “Donor milk is lifesaving medicine for thousands of...
AP-NORC poll: Fear of virus infection spikes among Americans
CHICAGO — Concern among Americans that they or a loved one will be infected by the coronavirus rose dramatically in the past month, with two-thirds of the country now saying they’re at least somewhat concerned about contracting the covid-19 illness. That’s up from less than half who said so in...
Saint Vincent Summer Theatre cancels season
Saint Vincent College has canceled the 2020 season of Saint Vincent Summer Theatre, citing travel and other gathering restrictions associated with covid-19. Plans were for the season to open May 21 with “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” “This is certainly a difficult and unfortunate decision as Saint Vincent Summer Theatre has been...
Chinese city Wuhan offers hope on coronavirus front; Italy nears stark warningVideo
BEIJING — Thursday was a day of contrasts on the front lines of the battle against the new coronavirus. In a sign of hope, the Chinese city of Wuhan reported no new homegrown infections, but in a stark warning for the world, Italy appeared set to surpass China’s death toll...
16 Allegheny Co. sheriff’s deputies self-isolating after possible coronavirus exposure
More than a dozen Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies are self-isolating after a deputy who might have been exposed to the coronavirus went to work with symptoms Wednesday morning. A deputy’s son’s girlfriend and mother recently traveled to Spain, Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus said. While the deputy was out of town...
What’s essential as businesses heed pleas to close amid coronavirus pandemic
Businesses around Western Pennsylvania have shut their doors, heeding pleas from public health officials and elected leaders from mayors to governors to the president to limit contact between people to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Tom Wolf this week asked that all nonessential businesses close. Many have. But...
Coronavirus outbreak could leave 6-figure dent in WPIAL budgetVideo
The coronavirus outbreak already has spring sports on hold indefinitely, but the WPIAL is bracing for off-the-field impacts as well from the unfolding pandemic. The virus could leave a six-figure hole in the WPIAL budget, cancel the annual meeting and delay the election of board members for next school year....
Latrobe to reopen transfer station Monday
Beginning Monday, Latrobe will reopen its solid waste transfer station to the public for recycling and to city residents for purchase of garbage stickers. The station was closed at the beginning of the week because of coronavirus concerns — as was the city municipal building on Jefferson Street, which will...
State Supreme Court temporarily bans residential evictions, reduces state court functions
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that no state officer or officials conduct any residential evictions for failure to pay rent, a loan or similar payment through at least April 3. “This Court is aware that the economic consequences of the covid-19 pandemic may cause individuals to suffer a...
Sick staff fueled outbreak in Seattle-area care centers
SEATTLE — Staff members who worked while sick at multiple long-term care facilities contributed to the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable elderly in the Seattle area, federal health officials said Wednesday. Thirty-five coronavirus deaths have been linked to Life Care Center in Kirkland. A report Wednesday from the U.S. Centers...
Army Corps announces closure of public facilities in Western Pennsylvania
The Army Corps of Engineers had closed select public facilities at recreational sites throughout Western Pennsylvania. Facilities affected include resource managers’ offices, visitor centers, ranger offices, maintenance offices, campground, picnic, shelter, pavilion and disc golf facilities, playgrounds, fishing areas and piers, and restrooms. “We have been actively monitoring the effect...
Virus death toll spikes in Iran, with total now at 1,135
TEHRAN — Iran on Wednesday reported its single biggest jump in fatalities from the coronavirus as another 147 people died, raising the country’s overall death toll to 1,135. The nearly 15% spike in deaths — amid a total of 17,361 confirmed cases in Iran — marks the biggest 24-hour rise...
US military’s role in response to virus outbreak is growing
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s role in responding to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States began to rapidly expand Wednesday as officials announced that two Navy hospital ships and two Army field hospitals were preparing to deploy to help overburdened regions. The latest moves are aimed at taking the pressure...
Allegheny County Council to limit attendance, live stream meetings
Allegheny County Council will limit attendance at regularly scheduled council meetings but will accommodate both live streaming and written public comment amid the covid-19 outbreak, council President Patrick Catena, D-Carnegie, announced Wednesday. “The coronavirus pandemic has forced all of us to adjust our schedules and routines for the safety and...
Bars, restaurants could be cited, lose liquor license for continuing on-premises service
Bars and restaurants that continue to serve on-premises food and alcohol could be cited and possibly lose their liquor license, the state Liquor Control Board announced. “Medical experts and public health professionals from around the world agree the best step we can take to slow the spread of covid-19 is...
Greensburg loosens parking restrictions during coronavirus pandemic
Greensburg will ease up on parking tickets during the coronavirus pandemic, the city police department announced Wednesday on Facebook. Drivers will be allowed to park at meters without paying for up to one hour, according to the announcement. The move is being made to help local businesses, which are struggling...
Caleb Verbois: How to talk to your children about coronavirus
My wife and I homeschool our children, so we did not have to suddenly tell our children “no school for the next month,” as we will still be having it. But we did have to talk to them about why we will not be able to do other normal activities,...
Western Pa. school districts rally to feed students during school stoppage over coronavirus
School districts across Western Pennsylvania scrambled this week to find ways to feed students after classes were canceled for at least two weeks as officials grappled with ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Volunteers and district employees handed out more than 800 bags of food for breakfast and...
