Covid-19 cases in Allegheny County are tied to a variety of sources, officials said — but most are tied to individuals conducting everyday business.
“I’m asking you all to be careful, especially when you’re around people you know well, like family and friends,” said Health Director Debra Bogen at a virtual news briefing Wednesday. “That’s where we let our guard down.”
Bogen said around 60 of the more than 800 cases reported last week were tied to private parties, large and small. The county has detected three outbreaks spread to particular parties — two of which were weddings that involved a collective 23 people.
A third party infected seven people.
Allegheny County has seen a steady increase in cases through October. On Wednesday, the county reported 199 cases (137 confirmed and 62 probable), which is the second-highest daily total of cases in nearly three months.
“I don’t put a lot of stock in a single day’s report. … I really look for trends,” Bogen said. “But it is certainly an eye-opener to see a number that large, and a reminder of just how fast this virus can spread.”
The county’s recent uptick in cases is not driven by any one age group or any specific neighborhood, she said.
Cases have been tied to workplaces, businesses, restaurants, bars and travel.
In at least 100 cases in the last week, individuals reported going to a bar or restaurant. While cases have been present across nearly every school district in the county, Bogen said the outbreaks have been relatively small and quickly contained there.
“The remarkable thing about our cases is that there is no pattern at this point,” she said.
As the weather cools and the holidays approach, Bogen said the county is facing a “turning point.” She encouraged people to celebrate differently, suggesting virtual meet-ups, small groups and limited travel.
Still, Bogen said the outlook in Allegheny County is more optimistic than in the state as a whole, after Health Secretary Rachel Levine this week expressed concern about residents’ cooperation with case investigators and contact tracers. Bogen said in Allegheny County, of the 800 cases were investigated last week, about 75% of people answered questions from health professionals.
With Election Day approaching next week, Bogen and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald also asked voters not to linger at polling places, so as to decrease any exposure to the virus. They’re also asked to wear masks and follow floor markings to maintain physical distancing.
“This is a little different from what we’re normally used to,” Fitzgerald said. “But so is going to the store, so is going to the barber shop, so is going to lots of different places that we go and congregate at. We just want people to be safe, cast their ballot and then go.”
