Latest on coronavirus: Mostly business as usual Monday in Pittsburgh

There was a lighter sort of business as usual Monday on Grant Street in Downtown Pittsburgh, the morning after county and state officials asked nonessential businesses to close their doors for two weeks.

Traffic through Downtown continued to flow – but lighter.

Commuters poured off the T at the Steel Plaza station – but lighter.

There was even some on-street parking was still available on some side streets at 8 a.m.

On doors to places like Bruegger’s and Starbucks, signs informed customers they could still come in for coffee and bagels – they just couldn’t stay there. Part of the Sunday-night order involved restaurants ceasing all dine-in service. Carry out and delivery can remain.

A few on-foot commuters drifted in and out of Bruegger’s, but the normally crowded coffee shop across from Steel Plaza was mostly empty.

Later, the lunch crowd in the food court at Oxford Centre was less of a crowd and more of a trickle. More tables were empty than not.

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.

Judges Kelly Bigley and Susan Evashavik DiLucente wrote in a memo to attorneys that all cases in their respective courtrooms from Tuesday through at least April 3 would be postponed.

The memo, posted in the Facebook group for the Western Pennsylvania Defense Attorney Network, urged attorneys to reschedule all hearings in advance and notify all defendants, witnesses, officers and others so as to “avoid an unnecessary trip to the courthouse.”

More covid-19 cases in Allegheny County

Two more cases of covid-19 in Allegheny County have been announced by the Health Department, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the county to six.

The department said the new cases are adults — one in their 60s and one in their 50s. They are isolated at home.

The department said there are “many” other test results pending.

Pennsylvania’s most recent update in cases was Monday just after noon, when they announced a total of 76, with the vast majority — 30 — in Montgomery County. One of Allegheny County’s cases went through a commercial lab and not the state system, which would set the Pa. total at 77.

The breakdown by county is as follows:

Allegheny (6)
Bucks (5)
Chester (2)
Cumberland (5)
Delaware (7)
Lehigh (1)
Luzerne (1)
Monroe (8)
Montgomery (30)
Northampton (1)
Philadelphia (8)
Pike (1)
Washington (1)
Wayne (1)

By late Monday morning, the number of people reported with the new coronavirus in the United States jumped to 3,813 — with five more deaths, bringing the total to 69.

The numbers, according to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, say officially only 12 have recovered as of yet.

Globally, 6,705 deaths have been reported and nearly 175,000 confirmed infections, according to Johns Hopkins. More than 77,600 have been reported recovered.

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Drive-by testing in Western Pa.

On Monday morning, a limited number of covid-19 tests will be made available in a drive-by setting at three Central Outreach Wellness Center locations.

Starting at 11 a..m., 100 tests kits will be available at the center’s North Shore, Washington and Aliquippa locations, according to a release.

The center, which offers health and other services to the LGBT+ communities, said the tests will be limited to those who have covid-19 symptoms, namely a fever and dry cough.

Pa. Turnpike suspends cash toll collection

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced Monday afternoon that it will temporarily stop accepting cash at tollbooths in an effort to safeguard employees and travelers in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The change takes effect at 8 p.m. Monday.

Drivers are instructed not to stop at tollbooths. Tolls will be assessed electronically via E-ZPass or the turnpike’s Toll by Plate program as vehicles travel through tolling points.

Special election still scheduled

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

YMCA closes all 8 Western Pa. branches

The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh said it was shuttering all eight of its branches for two weeks starting Monday night.

“This is not a decision we wanted to make. We are a community organization that thrives on bringing people together and creating personal connections that change lives through membership and programs,” the YMCA announced in a prepared statement Monday morning. “But the nature of covid-19 virus, and how it spreads, presents significant challenges.”

The YMCA said it hopes to reopen its branches March 30.

Westmoreland County continues to prepare for restrictions

The response to the coronavirus pandemic in Westmoreland County continued to evolve Monday morning as more cancellations and voluntary restrictions are expected.

Commissioners, who declared a state of emergency in the county over the weekend, have been meeting behind closed doors since 9 a.m. and called in all elected county officials for a later meeting.

The planning comes as Westmoreland County still awaits its first reported case of a resident infected with the coronavirus.

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.

Aid for unemployed workers in Pa.

Pennsylvania officials are bumping up outreach efforts to workers facing unemployment because of the rising coronavirus pandemic.

State Secretary of Labor & Industry Jerry Oleksiak said Monday workers facing unemployment because of the virus may be eligible for Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation benefits.

IUP, Robert Morris closing dorms, go online only

More Western Pennsylvania universities are going to online-only classes for the remainder of the school year.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania has suspended all face-to-face instruction for the semester and is asking students in residence halls to move out by Saturday. In a news release, the university said it will transition to online-only instruction.

Robert Morris University announced online instruction will continue throughout the rest of the semester.

Robert Morris suspended face-to-face instruction last week and began online classes today.

Brackenridge declares state of emergency

Brackenridge officials have declared a state of emergency to prevent the spread of covid-19 in the borough.

All public events have been canceled, and all bars, restaurants and social clubs have been asked to close.

“We just didn’t want any big groups to gather,” said Mayor Thomas Kish. “That’s the worst thing that could happen, I think.”

Western Pa. hospitals expand visitation rules

Allegheny Health Network and UPMC facilities have bolstered their visitation policies to help prevent the spread of covid-19.

Allegheny Health Network announced late Sunday that all visitors will be screened at all hospital entrances, effective immediately, by being asked if they have traveled domestically or internationally in the past two weeks and if they have a cough or fever. If they answer yes to either question, they will not be permitted to enter the facility, AHN said.

At UPMC, inpatients being tested for or diagnosed with covid-19 will not be permitted visitors, the health network said Sunday. Non-covid-19 inpatients and outpatients will be limited to one visitor per patient, and those visitors must be 18 years of age or older. People who are ill, sick, frail, elderly, or at-risk will not be allowed, UPMC said.

Pittsburgh Diocese canceling all Masses

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has canceled all weekday and Sunday Masses starting Monday to prevent the spread of covid-19.

“Although in many ways it saddens me to make this decision, given the best advice from health experts on federal, state and local levels, I feel it is a necessary one at this time,” said Bishop David Zubik in a statement. “I’m relying on the understanding and cooperation of all in the Diocese of Pittsburgh as we pray for each other at this difficult time.”

Masses will be suspended until further notice, according to a diocesan release.

Pitt, Duquesne go online only 

The University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University announced Sunday that they have committed to online-only classes for the remainder of the semester amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Duquesne also announced it is closing dorms for the rest of the semester and asked students living on campus to return home.

Pitt is limiting public access to several facilities, including the Cathedral of Learning, Hillman Library and Heinz Chapel. All public events have been canceled at the Community Engagement Centers and University Club, as well as fitness and recreation facilities. The university’s Office of Financial Aid and Admissions is closed to in-person meetings.

Online courses at Pitt will begin March 23.

Peace Corps evacuating

The Peace Corps is evacuating all of its volunteers and suspending operations in dozens of countries worldwide.

Director Jody Olsen says Sunday’s decision comes as “international travel becomes more and more challenging by the day.” She said the agency wanted to avoid leaving volunteers stranded in host countries.

Her statement stressed that posts would not close, but didn’t provide a timeline for resuming operations.

As of September 2019, the service program run by the U.S. government said it operates in more than 60 countries and has more than 7,300 volunteers and trainees. Volunteers in China and Mongolia have already been evacuated over virus concerns.

Global stock markets, U.S. futures fall

Global stock markets and U.S. futures have fallen in a rebuke from investors to emergency central bank action to shore up economic growth as anti-virus controls shut down business and travel.

The selloff followed the Federal Reserve’s surprise decision to slash interest rates.

Benchmarks in London and Frankfurt were down about 7%. Sydney’s benchmark plunged 9.7% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 4%. Japan’s benchmark sank 2.5% after the Bank of Japan announced it was expanding its monetary easing and providing 0% loans for companies that are running short of cash because of the virus outbreak.

Lunches for students

School districts started announcing how they would get food to students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches amid a statewide public school shutdown over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

Pittsburgh’s paid sick leave policy is in effect

An ordinance requiring employers in Pittsburgh to provide paid sick leave went into effect Sunday, guaranteeing many employees who work within city limits will still get paid and accrue sick time as coronavirus cases continue to grow.

Disney shuts down hotels, stores

Disney-owned hotels at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., will close at 5 p.m. Friday, the company said early Monday.

The closure also includes Disney’s Vero Beach Resort on Florida’s Atlantic Coast.

In a tweet, the company said the Friday closure will give guests the ability to make other arrangements.

In addition, the company announced it is closing all Disney stores in North America, beginning Tuesday. This includes the shops in Orlando’s Disney Springs and Downtown Disney in Anaheim, Calif. Online shopping will still be available.

CDC recommends 8-week shutdown

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that gatherings of 50 people or more in United States be canceled or postponed over the next eight weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The dramatic recommendation Sunday night came Americans struggled to come to terms with how to change their daily habits.

The CDC added that proper precautions should be taken at any event, including making sure people are washing their hands and not getting too close.

But in a sign of the difficulty of striking the right balance, the statement from the CDC also said the recommendation does not apply to “the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses.”

Vegas shutting down

MGM Resorts, which lists 13 resorts in Las Vegas, joined the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore in announcing closures Sunday.

Wynn Resorts said the two-week closure starts March 17 at 6 p.m. MGM says its Las Vegas properties will suspend operations by March 17.

The closures hit the same day that Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced that all public, private and charter K-12 schools in the state will be closed Monday until at least April 6. He says properties are making individual decisions about whether to close.

As of Saturday, health officials have announced 21 cases of coronavirus in Nevada.

South Korea numbers dropping

South Korea has reported 74 additional cases of the new coronavirus, continuing its downward trend.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday the additional cases brought the country’s total to 8,236. It has 75 deaths.

South Korea has the fourth-highest number of cases worldwide, but its new cases have been declining recently.

About 90% of cases in South Korea are in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby areas.

Warren Buffett’s daughter exposed to coronavirus

The daughter of billionaire investor Warren Buffett has been exposed to the new coronavirus and has isolated herself at her Omaha home for two weeks.

Susie Buffett told the Omaha World-Herald on Sunday that she feels fine and doesn’t think she’s contracted covid-19, which is caused by the virus that originated in China.

She says she’s not the least bit worried and says she hopes talking about her exposure brings down the fear in other people. She also says she hasn’t been around her 89-year-old father, Warren, since her exposure last week.

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.