Allegheny County officials see brighter light at the end of the covid tunnel

Allegheny County officials remain pleased with and optimistic about the rates of covid-19 and vaccinations countywide, they said Wednesday.

The county is now average fewer than 50 new cases per day, said health director Dr. Debra Bogen.

“Just two months ago, we were stuck in a fourth surge and averaging more than 450 new cases a day,” she said, noting that no single day has topped 100 new cases since May 21 and hospital and death levels are the lowest they’ve been since October.

Those encouraging numbers, Bogen said, can be credited to vaccines.

“They work,” she said. “They protect us from serious effects of covid and they’re helping us get back to the world we knew pre-pandemic.”

She noted some improvement in the vaccination rates among younger residents: 41% of those 15 to 19 years old are at least partially vaccinated and 13% of children, ages 12 to 14.

The county on Wednesday reported 42 new cases and eight new deaths, two of which were from December and six from May.

“The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter,” Bogen said.

Perhaps of evidence of that, Bogen’s weekly covid-19 briefings will be held every other week moving forward. Daily data will be released three days per week rather than six.

All of Pennsylvania’s mitigation measures – save for masking – expired on Memorial Day. The state’s mask mandate will lift on June 28 or when 70% of adults are fully vaccinated, whichever comes first.

With restrictions on gatherings lifted, Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety used the opportunity to remind residents of permit requirements for events, temporary outdoor dining spaces and park shelter rentals.

• Block party permits allow neighbors to close their street and waive open container and noise ordinances. Block parties are limited to residential areas and applicants for the $25 permit must live on the block in question. Permits are for weekends or holidays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Applications must be submitted at least seven days in advance.
• Special event permits are for outdoor community events taking place on public property, such as charity walks, a 5K race, street festival or concert. Permits cost $200 plus the cost of any contracted city services, and applications must be submitted 14 days in advance.
• The temporary outdoor dining and retail program has allowed restaurants and other businesses the ability to apply for a temporary sidewalk care, parking lane café, full street closure or curbside pick-up zone permits. The program has been meant to help businesses and restaurants create outdoor space amidst the pandemic.

  The permits include a sidewalk café permit to use exisiting sidewalk space, a parking lane café permit to use the parking lane in front of the business or a full street closure permit to significantly change part of or all of a street. They are free through the end of 2021.

• Park shelter and grove rentals are available through Oct. 10 and can be booked a year in advance at https://registerparks.pittsburghpa.gov