3 new Westmoreland coronavirus deaths bring toll to 30

Three new deaths in Westmoreland County related to the coronavirus have been reported by Coroner Ken Bacha.

All three were women, bringing the death toll to 30, according to statistics updated early Monday.

Bacha has said the majority of the county’s deaths are tied to nursing and personal care homes. He is being notified of virus-related deaths sooner than the state Department of Health, which on Monday reported 19 deaths.

Deaths related to contagious diseases that could constitute a public health hazard are required by law to be reported to coroners in the county where the death occurred.

Fourteen men and 16 women between the ages of 61 and 109 have died from the virus in Westmoreland County, according to Bacha’s statistics. All were white.

The facilities connected to the deaths have not been publicly identified by the coroner or state health department, which is tracking cases around Pennsylvania.

Westmoreland County reported three more cases on Monday for a total of 377. Countywide, 4,188 people have tested negative for the virus, according to state data. All 19 of the deaths the department is reporting have been connected to nursing or personal care homes. State data showed 128 residents and 28 employees across six different facilities in the county had tested positive.

New figures will be released Monday.