Week in Review: Tornadoes strike, covid-19 death toll rises

State agencies continued to change their policies in response to the rising coronavirus death toll, and two tornadoes ripped through the Alle-Kiski valley as high winds pummeled the region. Here’s a look at the week’s top stories.

Trout season starts early

Trout season opened in Pennsylvania at 8 a.m. Tuesday — almost two weeks ahead of schedule, according to the Fish and Boat Commission. The first day of the season had been slated for April 18.

About two-thirds of the state’s trout have been stocked and employees are working long hours to make sure the remainder of the fish make it into the water, said commission Sgt. Mike Walsh.

Anglers and boaters are being asked to maintain a 6-foot social distance from others on the region’s waterways to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Opening up the season immediately “is intended to discourage concentrated gatherings of people that may have occurred on the traditional opening day,” according to a news release. The move could minimize travel and reduce the possibility of poaching in waters that have already been stocked.

Twisters strike

The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes struck the Tarentum area early Wednesday, and heavy winds caused damage and power outages across the region. The storm ripped roofs off a church and a brewery in New Kensington, destroyed hangars at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity and brought down numerous trees and power lines. More than 40,000 people were without power. Wind gusts of about 75 mph were recorded at Pittsburgh International Airport shortly after 1 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. It was the strongest thunderstorm-related wind gust measured at the airport since at least 1948, the weather service said. National Weather Service radar had shown that a tornado touched down in New Kensington around 1:10 a.m., meteorologist Lee Hendricks said Wednesday morning.

Inmates sue

Three Allegheny County Jail inmates sued the county Wednesday — the same day that the jail reported its first case of an inmate testing positive for covid-19 — claiming they are at risk of being infected because of dangerous conditions inside the facility. The inmates filed the federal lawsuit contending they have health conditions, including hepatitis C, hypertension, and asthma, that make them susceptible to infection. The lawsuit claims the jail is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and their constitutional rights. It is impossible for inmates to remain 6 feet apart as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and inmates are forced to share a toilet, sink, and a desk, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks the release of all inmates with underlying medical conditions. The county declined comment. The jail on Wednesday reported its first case of an inmate testing positive for covid-19.

School’s out

Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday announced that all schools will stay closed for the rest of the academic year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The extended shutdown order affects more than 1.7 million students in public and private K-12 schools. It means children will spend the rest of the year learning remotely. While buildings are shut down, public schools are still strongly encouraged to provide some continuity of education through distance learning, either via online or printed handouts. The state Department of Education is offering additional resources to help schools make the transition. Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera said extending the closure to the end of the 2019-20 academic year will provide educators with more “predictability” at a time when information and protocols are constantly changing to fight the covid-19 pandemic. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association expressed support for this newest measure, saying it would allow educators to make more “concrete plans.”

Coroner: 11 dead of coronavirus in Westmoreland

Westmoreland County has 11 deaths related to coronavirus, according to county Coroner Ken Bacha.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Health is reporting five deaths in the county, but Bacha said Friday morning that six additional fatalities are attributed to covid-19, all of which have ties to four nursing homes.

“The Department of Health is way behind,” Bacha said.

Bacha said covid-19 deaths were reported at two facilities in Unity and one in Ligonier.

The official Allegheny County death count was 20 as of 11 a.m. Friday.