Allegheny County sets another record for new coronavirus cases

Allegheny County set another high for new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.

There were 620 new covid-19 cases, bringing the county’s total to 21,434, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Of the new cases, 506 are confirmed and 114 probable from 2,797 PCR tests. The new cases put the daily PCR positivity rate at 18.09% and the overall rate at 7.31%.

The county’s previous high was set Sunday with 527 new cases.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen are scheduled to hold a press conference about the rising cases today at 4 p.m.

Allegheny County also saw an increase of 37 new hospitalizations for covid-19 patients, growing from 318 to 355 on Wednesday. There are currently 127 coronavirus patients in the ICU and 55 on ventilators. According to the state covid dashboard, there are 79 available ICU beds in the county (9.9%).

The new cases range from 1 month to 99 years with a median age of 40. The tests range from Oct. 26 to Tuesday with only 37 tests more than a week old.

Here’s how the new cases — 341 female and 279 male — break down:

• 0-4: 14
• 5-12: 11
• 13-18: 44
• 19-24: 92
• 25-49: 222
• 50-64: 131
• 65+: 106

Two new deaths bring the county’s total to 464 since the pandemic began in March. The deaths happened Nov. 5 and Nov. 9, with one in the 80s and one in the 90s. One of the deaths is associated with a long-term care facility. Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health showed eight new deaths in the county, bringing the state’s number to 453. The discrepancy between the two departments has been attributed to different reporting methods.

The county has a seven-day average of 442 cases per day and a seven-day total of 3,095, both new highs.