A significant increase in people ignoring mitigation strategies coupled with more covid-19 variant cases has left Allegheny County with a “foundation for a surge,” said Dr. Debra Bogen, Health Department director.

“We are back to where we were in mid-January,” she said.

During a virtual news briefing Wednesday, Bogen said the county’s test positivity rate has risen from 6% last week to 7.7% and has recorded an average of more than 400 new infections per day in the last week. The hospitalization rate has also increased since the end of February — about 100 per week, Bogen said.

Case investigations show transmission is happening at gatherings large and small, Bogen said, often without masks.

Outbreaks have been tied to high school and college sports, small and large events and workplaces.

Bogen said one outbreak occurred after a large party attended by children outside of school, in which there was no social distancing or mask-wearing. An elementary school had to close as a result. She did not name the school.

“Short of everyone being vaccinated — we are all working as hard as we can to accomplish that — the only way this pandemic will subside is if we all adhere to the tried and true mitigation strategies,” Bogen said.

Still, vaccine distribution is progressing in Allegheny County, Bogen said. More than 70% of county residents who are 65 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine. More than 40% of residents ages 50 to 64 have gotten their first dose, as well.

The health department signed an agreement with a location in McKeesport to distribute vaccine — adding to the county’s existing sites in Castle Shannon, Ross and the Hill District. Appointments will opened there late next week.

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