Editor's Picks category, Page 416
UPMC doctor on coronavirus: ‘Fear can be a very healthy thing’
The fear and anxiety that is gripping the nation as coronavirus cases soar is not necessarily a bad thing, a top UPMC doctor leading preparations at the Pittsburgh-based health giant said Thursday. “Fear can be a very healthy thing,” Dr. Don Yealy, UPMC’s chair of emergency medicine, told the Tribune-Review....
There’s no toilet paper or hand sanitizer, but here’s what we’re not buying
Call it stocking up or panic-buying, the first wave of coronavirus-driven shopping seems to have subsided. While toilet paper is still on the endangered species list, a survey of Greensburg-area supermarkets, big box stores and pharmacies reveals limited supplies of paper towels, napkins and facial tissue. The demand for canned...
Hallmark lightens virus mood with Christmas movie marathon
“Yes, we need a little Christmas/right this very minute.” So goes the Jerry Herman song from the musical “Mame.” And, boy, does that ring truer now than ever. Well, Hallmark heard the call and is delivering us from our coronavirus doldrums. Starting at noon Friday, the channel will air a...
How coronavirus is impacting outdoor activities, and how to combat it
The outdoors arena isn’t being spared in this world gone crazy. The coronavirus pandemic that has people all over the world suddenly working from home, treating every sneeze like it’s a hungry lion’s ominous roar and frantically searching for toilet paper and hand sanitizer is hammering outdoor-related events and activities....
Western Pa. animal shelters limit services as coronavirus continues to spread
Animal shelters in the region have limited their services as the coronavirus continues to spread, with most reducing their adoption hours to appointment-only. Animal Friends and Humane Animal Rescue have cut programming and fundraising events, leading some officials to worry about what the big picture might look like after virus...
Life During Coronavirus: How Trib readers are coping
We want to hear from you — and so does everyone else. Share your stories about life in this coronavirus episode. Write to Director of Content John Allison at jallison@triblive.com. Please include your full name, neighborhood and phone number. Send photos, too, of what you are doing and seeing. Taking...
Zappala: DA’s Office won’t oppose release of nonviolent inmates at high risk for coronavirus
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office won’t opposed the release of nonviolent inmates deemed to be at high risk of contracting the coronavirus from the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh, a spokesman for the office said . Mike Manko, spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., said his office...
First responders offered free meals at Arnold Palmer airport amid coronavirus precautionsVideo
Some businesses and organizations have shut down or curtailed operations as part of Pennsylvania’s coronavirus precautions, but that’s not the case for police, paramedics and firefighters. So, the Westmoreland County Airport Authority joined forces with DeNunzio’s Italian Chophouse to help on-duty first responders get access to meals during the suspension...
Enclosed portion of Pittsburgh Mills mall closes indefinitely over coronavirus outbreak
The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills will close at 6 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed “until further notice,” the mall announced on its Facebook page. The closure applies to the enclosed mall only. The mall advised shoppers to check with other stores outside the mall about their status. “In response to...
Pitt postpones spring commencement ceremonies
The University of Pittsburgh has postponed all in-person spring commencement ceremonies at the main campus in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher announced Tuesday. “This decision was not made lightly,” Gallagher said in a statement. “We know this news will be upsetting both to graduates, who have worked so hard...
Blood donations at critical shortage because of coronavirus pandemic
Blood banks are asking healthy donors to turn out “in full force” as donations drop in the face of the spreading coronavirus. “If we don’t have enough blood to meet the sick patients’ needs, we’ll have another public health crisis on top of the pandemic,” said Kristen Lane, spokeswoman for...
Tell us your stories: What’s keeping you strong in the coronavirus pandemic?
While it’s time for social distancing, the Trib wants to hear from you – and share your stories about life in this public health emergency. • How are you keeping strong? • What are your fears? • What gives you hope? • What are you doing to help your family,...
Fallout from coronavirus: Movie theaters close, airlines cut flying, Walmart limits hours
WASHINGTON — U.S. movie theaters are closing nationwide due to the coronavirus pandemic, turning dark nearly all of the country’s 40,000-plus screens in an unprecedented shutdown. United Airlines will slash 50% of its flying capacity in April and May and warns the cuts could extend into the peak summer travel...
‘People rely on us’: Western Pa. restaurant owners adjust to life as takeout-only service
Rich Cupka had to close his two South Side bars, Cupka’s Cafe and Cupka’s Cafe II , but he plans to make good use of the time off. He’s ordered paint and floor stripper and plans to immediately begin sprucing up his establishments. His South Side coffee shop Cup Ka...
‘Riding the storm’: Westmoreland shops add delivery to bolster business
Some local businesses are finding ways to stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic by venturing into new territory — delivery. Orders have exploded for Greenhouse Winery, based in Sewickley Township, since starting a wine delivery service last week, said general manager Steve Helinski. They saw 12 orders the first day...
Pittsburgh college student recounts ‘bizarre experience’ getting screened for covid-19 at Detroit airport
Leah DeFlitch wasn’t sure what to expect when she boarded a plane in Amsterdam bound for her family’s Pittsburgh home early Sunday. She soon learned her pilot wasn’t sure what was in store for the passengers, either. It was only days after President Trump mandated health screenings for the novel...
Gun and ammunition sales soar; permits issued more than double in Western Pa.
In 100 years, the Army Navy & Indoor Pistol Range in Latrobe has seen just about everything, said owner Mark Boerio. But nothing like coronavirus. Boerio is not planning to close the store as the virus spreads across Western Pennsylvania. As of Tuesday, Allegheny County reported seven confirmed cases while...
Gas drops below $2 per gallon at nearly 40,000 stations across the country
Gasoline prices are continuing to fall in the Pittsburgh area and even more sharply across the nation, an industry analyst says. “The root cause continues to be coronavirus related,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for the price-tracking firm GasBuddy. “Such a large decline at this time of year...
As coronavirus spreads, 5 important things to know right now
Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based infectious disease and critical care physician, fielded a range of questions from the Tribune-Review on Monday morning. Adalja is a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. He works on pandemic preparedness, emerging infectious diseases and hospital preparedness. What are the most...
Western Pa. patients line up for drive-by coronavirus testing
Patients concerned they might have been exposed to covid-19 were able to take advantage of drive-by testing at three locations Monday across Western Pennsylvania, and the testing is expected to be offered Tuesday, as well. Central Outreach Wellness Center, with locations on the North Shore, Aliquippa and Washington, had about...
All Starbucks in U.S., Canada shift to takeout-only model
All Starbucks locations in the U.S. and Canada will be moving to a “to go” only model as it works to help slow the spread of covid-19, the company announced Sunday night. Seating will be suspended in the coffee shops, but takeout orders will still be accepted through the Starbucks...
Pitt, Duquesne go online only for rest of semester; Duquesne closes dorms
The University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University announced Sunday that they have committed to online-only classes for the remainder of the semester amid the coronavirus pandemic. Duquesne also announced it is closing dorms for the rest of the semester and asked students living on campus to return home. “We have...
Fed slashes rate to near zero, eases lending rules
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve took emergency action Sunday and slashed its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point to nearly zero and announced it would purchase more Treasury securities to encourage lending to try to offset the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The central bank said the effects...
Editorial: Pennsylvania’s handling of school closings gets ‘F’
This is not an editorial about coronavirus. It’s an editorial about questionable government decision-making that just happens to involve coronavirus. The thing is it could be about any big, important issue. Probably a few smaller, more mundane ones, too. For days, there was hemming and hawing about what would close...
Coronavirus in Pennsylvania: King of Prussia Mall closes; prison quarantine; 66 cases
One of the nation’s largest malls, in suburban Philadelphia, has closed amid a call from Pennsylvania’s governor for nonessential businesses to close to help stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of cases in the commonwealth increased to at least 66. The security office of the King...
