Allegheny County coronavirus cases top 1,000; county notes more test results

Allegheny County saw a jump of 62 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours.

New data released Saturday morning revealed that a total of 1,009 cases of the virus have been reported in Allegheny County since March 14, when the first positive case was identified.

That compares to 22 new cases reported Friday, 21 reported Thursday, 11 reported Wednesday, 17 reported Tuesday, 19 reported Monday and 21 new cases reported last Sunday.

County health department officials said Saturday’s increase — the largest in the last week — was related to batches of test results added to the data as well as additional testing in communal living communities.

Allegheny County reported four more deaths from the coronavirus Saturday, bringing the countywide total to 47 fatalities.

The people who have died ranged in age from 56 to 103 years, with the most deaths occurring in people over 70, county data show.

More than 11,800 people have been tested for the coronavirus in Allegheny County, but that amounts to less than 1% of residents.

Of the 1,009 cases, 178 people have been hospitalized at some point in recent weeks.

The county does not provide data on how many people have recovered or have been discharged.

At least 66 people have been admitted to an intensive care unit, which is an increase of nine in one day.

Of those, 41 people have required a ventilator, also an increase of nine patients.

Most of those who have tested positive in Allegheny County are age 70 or above.