As covid vaccinations continue, Pennsylvania and Allegheny, Westmoreland counties see fewer cases

After Pennsylvania passed a mark Wednesday with more than 70% of adults having at least one dose of a covid vaccine, Alison Beam, Pennsylvania Department of Health Acting Secretary, announced Thursday morning that the state’s mask order will be lifted by June 28.

Officials, who had said that the state’s mask mandate could be lifted when 70% of the state’s adults are fully vaccinated, believe the state is on track to hit that benchmark.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 5.3 million adults — those 18 and older — who are considered fully vaccinated. That’s 52.7% of the adult population.

The CDC’s latest report shows that 42.3% of all Pennsylvanians (5.4 million) are considered fully vaccinated and 57.3% (7.3 million) have at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

In Allegheny County, 738,880 residents (60.4% of all residents) have received at least one dose of a covid vaccine, while 539,668 individuals are fully covered (44.1% of all residents).

Dr. Debra Bogen, Allegheny County’s health director, is looking at the next phase of the pandemic, which she said could be the last phase.

“If everyone is vaccinated by the end of the summer, this could be our last phase of the pandemic,” Bogen said Wednesday in her weekly press briefing.

In Westmoreland County, the state reported that 169,584 of county residents (46.4% of residents) had received at least one dose of a covid vaccine, while 134,331 individuals are fully covered (36.7% of residents).

Cases

Covid cases reported Thursday in Pennsylvania, as well as Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, continue to go down.

The Allegheny County Health Department reported 47 additional cases — 42 confirmed and five probable — on Thursday, with the county’s total reaching 101,103.

This is the sixth day of reported cases under 100 in the county. Thursday’s reported cases is the lowest daily number since Oct 7, 2020 (43). And the seven-day average of cases is down to 72, which is a 43.3% drop from last Thursday.

The new coronavirus cases in the county — 20 male and 27 female — range in age from one month to 82 years with a median age of 35 years.

Westmoreland County saw an additional 26 cases — 14 confirmed and 12 probable. The county’s total stands at 34,049. The seven-day average of cases in the county was 32, which is a 30.4% drop from last Thursday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 941 additional cases, with its total increasing to 1,199,536. Cases reported statewide have been under 1,000 on four of the past five days. The seven-day average of cases was 1,143, a 21.9% drop from last Thursday.

Deaths

The state health department reported 40 additional deaths, as the state’s total grew to 27,163. Of the 40 deaths newly reported Thursday, 36 are from May, one is from April, one is from March and two are from January.

The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday reported one new death, which was from this month, of a person in their 60s. The death total stands at 1,943, according to the county.

The state health department has a total of 1,971 deaths for Allegheny County. No reason has been given for the discrepancy between the two health departments.

Westmoreland County saw no additional covid-related deaths. The total number of covid deaths in the county stands at 765. There have been 15 deaths in May and 280 this year in the county.

Hospitalizations

The number of residents who are hospitalized statewide for the virus is 1,152, down 20 from Wednesday, according to state data, with 289 covid patients in an intensive care unit and 172 on ventilators.

According to the state’s data, 111 Allegheny County residents are hospitalized for covid (up three from Wednesday), 32 of them are in ICUs and 21 of them are on a ventilator.

In Westmoreland County, 24 covid patients (down one from Wednesday) are hospitalized with six in the ICU and five on a ventilator.