Norwin covid cases continue on upward trend
The post-Thanksgiving spike in confirmed coronavirus cases hit a new high in the past week in the Norwin area, increasing by almost 30% in the week from Nov. 30 to Dec. 7, based on data from the state Department of Health.
The North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin areas saw its virus cases rise again — this time 29.1% to 1,302 confirmed cases as of Dec. 7, an increase of 294 cases from Nov. 30, according to health department data. There were 1,008 confirmed cases in the Norwin area as of Nov. 30 an 18% increase from the previous week.
The four ZIP codes in the Norwin area have seen double-digit weekly percentage increases for most weeks since late October. All of the totals for coronavirus cases are cumulative from the onset of the pandemic in the region in March.
In four ZIP codes that cover the most of the Norwin area, plus parts of Penn Township, there were 352 probable cases as of Dec. 7, a 21% increase from Nov. 30.
In the North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin ZIP code of 15642 — which captures most of the Norwin area’s 35,000 population — there were 1,252 confirmed cases as of Monday, up from 964 on Nov. 30. There were 341 probable tests and 8,294 tests with negative results.
In the Westmoreland City 15692 ZIP code, there were 38 confirmed cases, nine probable and 166 tests with negative results as of Dec. 7. The Ardara 15615 ZIP code has seven confirmed cases, one-to-four probable cases and 49 negative test results. The Larimer 15647 ZIP code has five confirmed cases, one-to-four probable cases and 47 negative test results.
As a result of the rise in cases in the Norwin School District, Superintendent Jeff Taylor said last week that students in the high school and middle school will remain home for the remainder of the month and receive their instruction in a virtual manner. The district’s intermediate and elementary schools will remain in a hybrid model — two days of in-person classes and three days of virtual instruction each week.
School officials said contact tracing by the health department and school nurses determined that none of those who have the virus, were infected in school.
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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