Allegheny County officials attribute slowed covid rise to mask cooperation

Allegheny County officials on Wednesday said they are keeping an eye on the local increase in covid-19 cases, but they aren’t panicking.

“This slow increase should remind us that things aren’t getting better in Allegheny County,” Health Director Debra Bogen said Wednesday. “But they also aren’t getting substantially worse, as they are in other parts of the state or the country.”

Bogen said there has been a gradual rise in cases reported to the health department in the past few weeks, but the department still generally reports fewer than 100 cases per day. In the last six weeks, the average number of new cases per day has increased from about 68 cases per day to 79 cases per day.

“It’s not a surge like we saw over the summer,” Bogen said. “The numbers aren’t doubling each day like we saw at the end of June. And I attribute this slow increase to the general opening up of activities in the region.”

The rise is slower because more residents are wearing masks, Bogen said.

About 93% of people in Allegheny County report wearing masks when they are out in public most or all of the time, according to data collected from Carnegie Mellon University’s Delphi Research Group. That’s higher than in surrounding communities, Bogen said.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said the numbers are “stable.” Many new cases have been traced back to familial gatherings like weddings, parties and funerals “where people feel comfortable.”

“Wearing your mask and social distancing still matters, no matter where you are,” Fitzgerald said. “The good news is we continue to have a great level of cooperation.”

Bogen said that last week’s new infections included 15 individuals who reported going to weddings, and 20 who reported going to parties.

“You can do these events and gatherings safely, but it takes a conscious effort,” she said.

During Wednesday’s news briefing, Bogen provided additional statistics on the spread of covid-19 within child care and school communities. Several schools throughout the region have at some point closed buildings temporarily, due to infections among students or staff.

Since the beginning of September, there have been about 150 cases of covid-19 among K-12 students, Bogen said, and another 60 among teachers, coaches and staff members – spanning more than 100 different schools in the county. There have been 27 cases reported among children and staff at child care centers since August, and about 450 cases across the 12 colleges and universities in the county.

Bogen said the cases in schools are often spread through sports teams or other extracurricular activities, and often when the students interact outside of their practice or activity.

“It appears more likely that the virus is spreading more at team dinners, at sleepovers, at playdates and at parties,” she said.

They are situations when mask-wearing and social distancing rules tend to relax, she said. “We see that as people are comfortable with one another, they feel safe and let down their guard.”

The county reported 97 new cases Wednesday – 55 have been confirmed. Western Pennsylvania has seen a general increase in cases and the percent of positive tests since the beginning of October. Experts have said the rise is part of the virus’ natural course as public life reopens – and fewer patients have needed critical care support, compared to earlier in the pandemic.