Patient at Jefferson Hospital 1st fatal covid-19 case in Allegheny County

Allegheny County recorded its first coronavirus death Saturday, the second death in the state since Pennsylvania saw its first case two weeks ago.

The person was in their late-60s and being treated at Jefferson Hospital, officials said.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said the family of the deceased asked that officials provide no further information.

Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi on Saturday confirmed the person who died was a city resident.

“At this time as a mayor and a human being and with the sadness from my council and city administration, we were made aware that a resident of Clairton has passed away from the Covid-19 Virus that has plagued our nation and found our city,” he wrote in a social media post.

“Prayers from all of us from city hall and condolences to the entire family. May you find peace and love from our community,” the mayor wrote.

The death came as the number of positive cases statewide jumped nearly 40% from 268 to 371 in one day. In Allegheny County, health officials reported three new cases, bringing the county total to 31, four of which are hospitalized.

“Does that mean we’re heading in the right direction? I don’t know that we can even say that,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s only one day, and it’s a very small sample that we have. We may see some higher results in the days to come.”

Dr. Debra Bogen, incoming county health director, said residents shouldn’t feel that social distancing efforts aren’t working because of the increase in positive cases, as there is a lag of five to 10 days.

“This number will certainly increase in the coming days, in part because we’re now increasing testing but also because we have community spread in our region,” she said.

A media briefing will be held later this afternoon with details forthcoming.

Additionally, there are 31 positive cases of COVID-19 in Allegheny County. Of those cases, five are hospitalized. Additional results are expected to be received throughout the day.

— Allegheny County Health Department (@HealthAllegheny) March 21, 2020

Bogen and Fitzgerald both urged UPMC to begin to “wind down” elective surgeries and hospital admissions “as much as possible.”

Both state and county officials have asked hospitals to halt elective procedures as another avenue to stanch the spread of covid-19. first coronavirus death was reported Wednesday. The victim, Carmine Fusco, was a resident of Bath, Northampton County.

He was one of four members of a New Jersey family who died from covid-19, The New York Times reported. Others who died included his 73-year-old mother and two siblings. Seven family members in total have been sickened by the coronavirus, the paper reported.