Virus cases found at 5 Westmoreland County public housing properties

Coronavirus cases among residents in five public housing properties throughout Westmoreland County were reported over the past week.

Residents in communities in Greensburg, Hempfield, Latrobe and Monessen have reported contracting the virus, confirmed Michael Washowich, executive director of the Westmoreland County Housing Authority.

“It’s a trend that mirrors what has happened everywhere else,” Washowich said. “We’ve probably had less than 20 cases, but a majority of those have been recent.”

The properties impacted are the Loyalhanna Apartments in Latrobe, Walnut Avenue Apartments in Greensburg, Westgate Apartments and Park Manor in Monessen and Hempfield Towers.

This year, the authority reported cases among residents at Parnassus Manor in New Kensington, McMurtry Towers in Vandergrift and Park Manor.

The authority operates about 2,500 public housing units in 42 properties.

Residents in buildings where a covid-19 case was identified were notified, and common areas were cleaned and sanitized by a private company, Washowich said. Throughout the pandemic, the authority has limited or closed areas were residents socialize and gather. Residents at all housing authority properties were asked to limit visitors to their homes and wear masks in common areas.

Residents at authority properties are primarily low-income and elderly. The authority has been in contact with the state Department of Health about the potential to sponsor distribution of a coronavirus vaccine at its properties when it becomes available, Washowich said.

He said the agency also is assisting residents diagnosed with covid-19.

“We ask residents to let us know. We have our own social service department, and we can do everything we can to assist. We’re also encouraging all of our residents to follow protocols. It’s so important with this stuff,” Washowich said.