Two more people died from the coronavirus in Westmoreland County, bringing the current death toll to 15, officials reported Tuesday.
The majority of the county’s fatalities are linked to senior living communities, said Coroner Ken Bacha. The two most recent deaths occurred at hospitals, but were people who had been taken there from nursing homes, he said. At least five deaths, including the two most recent, have happened at hospitals in the county.
State health officials on Tuesday continued to list the county death total at six but, since late last week, the coroner’s office has disclosed updated figures that shows the coronavirus has resulted in more deaths. The first deaths in the county were reported April 5.
The Department of Health reported three new cases in the county on Tuesday.
Deaths related to contagious diseases which could constitute a public health hazard are required by law to be reported to coroners in the county where the death occurred, Bacha said. A physician who has been caring for the patient can issue the death certificate, he said.
State officials said they were attempting to clarify the discrepancy between numbers. Officials say the responsibility of reporting deaths electronically to the state lies with doctors and hospitals. Bacha said his office is notified more quickly of the deaths.
The oldest Westmoreland coronavirus victim was 109 and the youngest was 64, according to the most recent information available from the coroner. The eight men and seven women all were white.
Westmoreland County had 231 confirmed cases of the virus as of noon Tuesday.
County officials are anticipating receiving from the state addresses of local residents who tested positive for the coronavirus. Police and other first responders will be notified if they are called to an address on the list. It was unclear if some form of that information will be disseminated to the public.
More than 25,345 coronavirus cases have been reported in Pennsylvania as of Tuesday. The death toll stands at 584.
