Westmoreland County coroner reports another covid-19-related death, bringing total toll to 12

The Westmoreland County coroner’s office reported one new coronavirus-related death late Saturday night, bringing the countywide total to 12.

The coroner’s website was reporting 12 covid-19 deaths as of 11 p.m. Saturday. It was reporting 11 deaths on Saturday morning, the same as it had Friday.

The state health department on Sunday continued to report six covid-19 deaths in Westmoreland County. The number of positive cases, according to state data, has increased by five from 218 to 223.

Coroner Kenneth Bacha is critical of the state’s recording system, saying that it is behind the actual numbers and may not be counting all cases.

No new covid-19 deaths were reported by Allegheny County officials on Sunday, leaving the countywide death total at 19.

Fayette County reported four new covid-19 cases but no new deaths, bringing the countywide total to 54 and leaving the death count at three. Indiana County has 40 cases and zero deaths; and Somerset County has 12 cases and zero deaths.

The 1,178 new positive cases reported Sunday brought the statewide total to 22,833. That’s about a 5.4% increase over the previous day’s statewide case count.