Allegheny County reports 8 new cases of covid-19, total now at 48; 6 people hospitalized

There are 48 confirmed cases of covid-19 in Allegheny County, according to figures released Monday by the Allegheny County Health Department.

Of those cases, six people are hospitalized.

The county recorded its first coronavirus death Saturday, a person in their late 60s who was being treated at Jefferson Hospital.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 644 positive cases of covid-19 statewide, according to figures released Monday.

There were 6,595 people who have tested negative.

State health department figures show Beaver and Erie counties reporting three cases each, Butler County is reporting five cases, Washington County is reporting seven cases and Westmoreland County is reporting six cases.

Fayette and Mercer counties are each reporting one case.

Those reports are updated daily and do not always immediately included cases recorded by local health departments.

In a statement Monday, county health department officials announced a new web page intended to respond to residents’ questions and debunk rumors about covid-19.

“Rumors and misinformation can be destructive and can even cause harmful behaviors that increase personal and public health risks,” health department officials said in a statement Monday. “While we cannot realistically respond to every rumor, ACHD has created a page dedicated to addressing rumors about covid-19.”

That web page can be found at: www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Resources/COVID-19/Rumor-Control.aspx.

The web page already includes answers to questions regarding at-home test kits, noting that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not authorized such tests, as well as questions about medications used to treat covid-19.