North Huntingdon-Irwin covid cases on rise again

Coronavirus cases in the North Huntingdon-Irwin area increased by about 20% in the past week, a trend that has continued the last several weeks, according to data reported this week by the state Department of Health.

The number of virus cases in North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin, which has a population of about 35,000, rose to 561 from 507 for the week ending Oct. 26, the health department said.

The count is based on 547 confirmed cases in the North Huntingdon-Irwin 15642 ZIP code, plus 12 confirmed cases from the Westmoreland City 15692 ZIP code. With the state reporting between one and four confirmed cases in the Larimer and Ardara ZIP codes of 15647 and 15615 respectively, the total count includes one case from each ZIP code.

The number of cases could rise significantly because the state said there are 86 probable cases in the North Huntingdon-Irwin ZIP code.

Because Westmoreland County remains in what the state deems the “substantial level” of community transmission, Norwin School District postponed its return to providing five-day-a-week in-school instruction from Nov. 4 to at least Nov. 18.

Norwin Superintendent Jeff Taylor said he will provide an update on Nov. 9 on whether the district will move from its hybrid instruction model of two days in school and three days of virtual learning, to offering full in-class instruction to those who want it.

The anticipated update comes a week after Norwin announced two more coronavirus cases — a middle school staff member and a Norwin Online Academy staff member. The district reported it has had about 30 cases among students and staff, as of Nov. 5.

The district said there is no need for contact tracing or additional sanitization at the middle school, nor is there a need to close the school.

Norwin reported three more cases the week of Nov. 2.

Another high school student had tested positive for the coronavirus, the district said on Nov. 3. The school was sanitized and contact tracing was initiated, the district said.

On Nov. 4, the district said it learned that a Sunset Valley Elementary student and a Hillcrest Intermediate student tested positive for the coronavirus.

The two students had not been in school for several days, so no contact tracing at the schools is needed now, the health department said.

Following the typical cleaning protocol that is already in place, all schools were sanitized after these students last attended and before the next group arrived.

Norwin said it is closely monitoring the situation and will notify staff and families if any additional actions need to be taken.