New North Huntingdon-Irwin area covid cases up slightly
The number of new coronavirus cases in the North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin area rose slightly from March 15 to 22, but the percentage increase remained below 2%, based on data released Monday by the state Department of Health.
In the four ZIP codes covering North Huntingdon, Irwin, North Irwin, Westmoreland City, Ardara and Larimer, the number of new confirmed covid cases increased by 53 to 2,850, a slight increase from the 32 new confirmed cases from March 8 to 15. The percentage of new cases rose to 1.8%, up from just a 1.1% increase in confirmed cases from March 8 to 15, according to health department data. The number of new confirmed cases and percentage of new cases had declined steadily from late January until this past week.
The number of cases is counted from the first coronavirus case in March 2020 in the region.
There were 1,341 probable but not confirmed cases, an increase of just 38 cases. Since coronavirus testing began last year, there have been 11,816 negative test results, an increase of 84 negative tests in those four ZIP codes since March 15.
In the North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin 15642 ZIP code, there were 2,743 confirmed cases, an increase of 51; 1,311 probable cases and 11,448 negative test results, a jump of 86 cases. The 15642 ZIP code also covers parts of Penn Township and Hempfield Township, but not sections of North Huntingdon bordering Trafford or White Oak.
There were 63 confirmed covid cases and 18 probable cases in the Westmoreland City 15692 ZIP code, which was no change for the second consecutive week. There were 221 negative test results as of March 22, one less from March 15.
In the Ardara 15615 ZIP code, there were 27 confirmed cases and seven probable but not confirmed, a slight increase from March 15. There were 71 negative test results.
There were 17 new confirmed cases, five probable and 76 negative test results in the Larimer 15647 ZIP code, no increase from the past week.
One Norwin student and one staff member reported between March 16 and 22 that they had been infected with coronavirus.
The district has six students with active cases of covid and three staff members. Sixty students are in quarantine as are five employees.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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