Latest on coronavirus: More than half of local adults could be infected; Cars line up around block for drive-by testing; Greensburg closes city facilities

More than half of adults in Western Pennsylvania could be infected by the coronavirus before the pandemic runs its course, Allegheny County Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen estimated Tuesday night.

“Sadly, eventually, everyone in this room, or at least half of us in this room, probably will get this infection,” Bogen said at a telephone townhall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills. “However, hopefully we will spread out how quickly we get that infection.”

Bogen set the estimate at between 40 and 60%.

Long line for drive-up testing

Dozens of vehicles lined up around the block Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s North Shore to get tested for coronavirus.

Central Outreach Wellness Center, with locations on the North Shore, Aliquippa and Washington, was offering testing for people who had symptoms of the virus. The health organization began offering drive-by testing Monday.

As scheduled, UPMC opened its test site on the South Side on Tuesday.

Greensburg shuts down city facilities

The City of Greensburg will close all of its facilities to the public “until further notice” effective Wednesday. City employees will either report to work as usual or work from home to handle day-to-day operations. The policy includes City Hall and all city parks.

Social distancing

On Tuesday morning, the nation was waking up to a new normal: social distancing.

On Monday afternoon, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all nonessential Pennsylvania businesses to shut down to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

The question being asked by many on social media: What does that mean?

In a letter to business owners, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine defined nonessential businesses as community and rec centers; gyms, including ones offering group fitness classes like yoga and spin; hair and nail salons and spas; casinos, concert venues and theaters; bars; sports facilities and golf courses; and retail facilities except for those containing pharmacies or medical facilities.

Essential businesses like grocery stores and medical facilities will remain open, and trash collection and other important services will continue, Wolf said. While liquor stores will close, beer and wine can still be purchased at licensed grocery stores, and restaurants can still offer carry-out and delivery.

Wolf said he expects the closures beginning Tuesday to last at least two weeks, but “we will be constantly reevaluating.”

“This isn’t a decision I take lightly at all,” Wolf said. “It is one that I’m making because medical experts believe it is the only way we can prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed by patients.”

Latest covid-19 cases

One new case and three presumptive positive cases were announced Tuesday morning by Allegheny County officials. That brings the total number of positive cases of covid-19 in Allegheny County to seven. The new confirmed case is a patient in their 60s who is hospitalized.

Additional details on the newest case were not released by county officials.

Pennsylvania’s most recent update in cases was Tuesday afternoon, with a total of at least 96 across the state. The total number of cases may be higher. The state’s numbers do not include all positive cases that are confirmed by individual counties.

By Tuesday morning, the number of people reported with the new coronavirus in the United States jumped to 4,661 — with 16 more deaths, bringing the total to 85.

The numbers, according to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, say officially only 17 have recovered as of yet.

Globally, 7,330 deaths have been reported and over 185,000 confirmed infections, according to Johns Hopkins. More than 80,000 have been reported recovered.

How are you coping?

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Fewer flights from PIT

Airlines are cutting flights out of Pittsburgh International Airport in response to concerns about the spreading coronavirus, airport officials said Tuesday.

Allegheny County Airport Authority officials have been anticipating the cuts and preparing for them.

Fox Chapel high school student

A Fox Chapel Area School District student who was exposed to the coronavirus visited the high school on Monday, officials announced.

Two high school students have a brother who Monday night tested positive for covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, officials said in a prepared statement. One of the students visited the high school to retrieve personal items needed for online instruction while the district is closed through April 12.

Amtrak shutting down in Pa.

In an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Amtrak will suspend its passenger rail service between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia beginning Wednesday, and all of its passenger service in Pennsylvania will be shut down as of Thursday, the railroad said.

Advice from a doctor

With Western Pennsylvania municipalities entering their first week of widespread school closures and restrictions on nonessential businesses in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, we all need to understand the idea behind it all, says one emergency physician.

“It is absolutely imperative that we as a whole practice social distancing,” said Dr. Arvind Venkat, with Allegheny Health Network. “What happened in Italy and what happened in China was a spike in illness since you had a complete mismatch. No one can handle that. So, that’s the nightmare we need to avoid.”

In an interview with the Trib, Venkat — also president of the Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians — talked about the most telling covid-19 symptoms, what people should do if they are quarantined at home, hospital readiness and what he fears the most.

Wash your hands, then moisturize

Frequent handwashing, while necessary as protection from the coronavirus that causes covid-19, can lead to dry skin and irritation.

To curb irritation, use a simple moisturizer. The less scents and other additives the better, said Dr. Laura Ferris, a UPMC dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh. Even basic petroleum jelly will work.

Store closings

American Eagle Outfitters has closed all stores in the United States and Canada, citing the most recent government recommendations about the spreading coronavirus.

The clothing outlet says it hopes to reopen retail stores on March 27, but it will reevaluate as time goes by.

This follows what other retailers are doing as many are closing stores or limiting hours.

Area venues rescheduling events

Area arts and entertainment venues are working to reschedule events that have been postponed due to coronavirus-related restrictions.

Here’s a list of new event dates.

Shifting from booze to hand sanitizer

A Pennsylvania distillery owner who grew increasingly angry as he saw the skyrocketing price of hand sanitizer has decided to do something about it.

He is temporarily converting his operation into a production line for the suddenly hard-to-find, gooey, alcohol-based disinfectant.

Statewide judicial emergency

The State Supreme Court on Monday declared a statewide judicial emergency, which will pave the way for county judges to modify the way their courts operate amid statewide closures out of course over the coronavirus.

The emergency declaration by the state’s highest court allows county President Judges – including Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark — to declare their own countywide judicial emergencies through April 14.

Judicial emergencies allow the president judges to take a slew of actions to “protect the health and safety” of those who work for and use the courts. That ranges anywhere from closing or evacuating the courthouse to canceling or postponing trials and jury duty.

Clark said last week that jurors summoned any day this week will not be required to report.

At least two Court of Common Pleas judges have postponed proceedings in their courtrooms out of concern for public health.

Special election still scheduled 

Tuesday’s special election to fill the vacant 58th District state House seat went on as scheduled, despite widespread cancellations and shutdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Westmoreland senior centers

The Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging ordered the Wednesday closure of all senior centers and satellite offices through March 31. Center participants can pick up meals at the location they normally visit. Meals delivered to homes will continue, but may be on a different delivery schedule. Staff members will call regularly to check on center and home-delivered meal participants.

The Westmoreland County prothonotary office has stopped accepting passport applications.

Trib offers free eTrib access

Trib Total Media is offering free access to its electronic editions in effort to help those in the community be better informed about the health crisis involving the coronavirus pandemic.

Additionally, Trib President and CEO Jennifer Bertetto addressed readers Sunday, reaffirming the company’s commitment to help them stay informed about this unfolding public health emergency.