Westmoreland County posts 173 covid-19 cases, 3 new deaths

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported 173 new cases of the coronavirus in Westmoreland County, as hospitalizations and case counts decline in the area.

The county’s total cases are at 23,039, which is an increase of more than 1,400 cases from last week’s 21,622. The week before had an increase of about 1,500 cases.

On Wednesday, a weekly high of 277 cases was reported, while a low of 153 was reported Friday.

Three deaths also were reported, which increases the toll to 526. That’s 50 more than there were last week.

Fourteen fatalities were reported Wednesday. On Tuesday, 11 deaths were reported.

Thus far in January, 103 deaths have been recorded. The county is on pace for 200 deaths this month.

In December, 224 deaths were reported. Westmoreland County didn’t reach that number from the time the virus was first reported there in March until Dec. 4.

Of the new covid-19 cases, 98 are confirmed and 75 are probable. Health officials define a probable case as one in which a patient has a positive viral antigen test or covid symptoms with a “high-risk exposure” to someone who has been confirmed to have covid-19.

The results come from a batch of 371 tests. The positivity rate is 26%.

There are currently 153 covid-19 patients in hospitals throughout the county — seven more than this time last week, according to state numbers. Of that total, 13 (five less than last week) are in intensive care, six of whom are on ventilators (also down five from last week).