Coronavirus cases rise again in Norwin area

Coronavirus cases increased by 10% in the North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin area over the past seven days, but the percentage rise in cases was not as steep as earlier this month, according to state Department of Health data.

The number of confirmed virus cases in the Norwin area — which has a population of 35,000 — increased by 77 to 825 from Nov. 16 to 23. That increase in cases, however, was less than the 22% jump in confirmed cases from Nov. 9 to 16. There were 254 probable cases in the area, up from 204 a week ago, with a total of 7,705 negative coronavirus test results.

The total count is based on the number of cases since the health department began tallying covid-19 cases in mid- March.

Coronavirus cases in the North Huntingdon-Irwin 15642 ZIP code rose to 789 from 685, with an additional 247 probable cases. In the Westmoreland City 15612 ZIP code, there were 28 confirmed cases and six probable. In the Ardara 15615 ZIP code, there were seven confirmed cases and none probable. The Larimer 15647 ZIP code had between one and four confirmed cases and a similar number of probable cases.

In the North Huntingdon-Irwin area, there were 7,471 negative tests; 146 in the Westmoreland City area; 47 in the Ardara area and 41 in Larimer.

The rise in confirmed coronavirus cases mirrors an increase in coronavirus cases in the Norwin School District. Norwin reported it was notified of 13 more cases on Monday, pushing the total number of cases to 78 students and staff since school began on Aug. 31. As the number of coronavirus cases increased, the school district postponed full five-day-a-week in-school instruction that was to begin Nov. 18.

Norwin remains in a hybrid instruction model — two days of in-school instruction for each half of the 5,300 students and the other three days as virtual instruction. District administrators have not said when Norwin might offer all students five days-a-week instruction in school.