Allegheny County officials encourage 'vigilance' as cases rise

Covid-19 cases are on the rise in Allegheny County, with the number of new cases reaching around 120 each day this week.

County Health Director Debra Bogen said the health department is prepared with an increased staff of case investigators and contact tracers, greater availability of testing and continued monitoring of county data to search for clusters and outbreaks.

“The Allegheny County Health Department is ready,” Bogen said. “We anticipated this increase in cases and we spent the summer preparing.”

Cases in the county among Asian residents in the county have multiplied in recent weeks, with the rate of infection now 3,312 infections per 100,000 people.

For comparison, the incidence rate among Black residents is 1,810 per 100,000; and only 871 per 100,000 among white residents.

Bogen said the county identified the increase among Asian residents in Pittsburgh’s South Hills neighborhoods. To address the disparity, she said the health department partnered with organizations and groups in the community, shared information and resources, sent teams to do educational visits and deployed targeted testing in the area. Bogen said the spread of covid-19 is beginning to slow in this community.

Amid the rising case levels, Bogen said there hasn’t been one concrete cause for transmission identified. The virus is present in most neighborhoods and municipalities, she said, and is spreading at both private parties and in public places.

“We know that we can keep our economy open and safe, but in order to do so we need to continue with our universal strategy to contain the virus,” she said.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald once again asked residents to be “vigilant,” as the weather cools and opportunities for outdoor activities decrease. He pointed out that many industries have successfully reopened in the last several months while following public health protocols.

“The one thing that we have learned over these seven-plus months is that operations can continue, and continue in a somewhat normal fashion, if people are cooperating,” said Fitzgerald.

As Election Day approaches, Rich Fitzgerald encouraged residents to practice social distancing and mask-wearing at the county’s 1,300 polling locations. Poll workers are required to wear masks.

“We want people to participate, but participate safely,” he said. “Just like every other operation we’ve seen: from Steelers fan going to games wearing their masks, to people going to school, going to office, going to the store. …We have learned the things that we need to do.”

Record numbers of people have applied to vote by mail, Fitzgerald said, and almost a quarter of a million have returned their ballots. Residents have until next Tuesday to apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot.