Virus confirmed in Westmoreland County
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
The first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Westmoreland County were reported Thursday by the state Department of Health.
County Public Safety Director Roland Mertz said state officials have not shared any specific information about the local cases.
“All we know is the tests were conducted in Westmoreland County and came back as a presumed positive. The next step will be for the Department of State to conduct contact tracing to see if it is in the community,” Mertz said. “We don’t know if it’s a Westmoreland County resident or someone just tested in Westmoreland County.”
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania continues to climb as the total statewide count reached 185 Thursday, a 39% increase from the previous day.
Washington County has three cases of COVID-19, state health officials said.
Allegheny County Health Department said there were 18 positive cases of the virus, and the state health department was reporting that 16 of those were confirmed.
“Our notable increase in cases over the last few days and our first death in Pennsylvania indicate we need everyone to take COVID-19 seriously,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine.
Levine said 1,608 patients statewide have tested negative, and the state saw its first death from COVID-19 on Wednesday — an adult from Northampton County.
County sheriff deputy tested for COVID-19
Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus on Wednesday announced a sheriff’s deputy has been tested for COVID-19.
Kraus said 15 deputies had interactions with the deputy while he was at the sheriff’s office Wednesday for a period of 10 to 12 minutes at the start of his shift.
“Those deputies were subsequently sent home, under an abundance of caution, in relation to this pandemic,” Kraus said. “None of these fifteen deputies showed any symptoms of illness, and they will return to duty as soon as Sheriff (William) Mullen receives the necessary information to return them to duty.”
The deputy who has been tested reported that his son’s girlfriend recently returned from a trip to Spain and over the weekend visited his son at the family home in the Pittsburgh area. The deputy, who hasn’t been identified, was out of town when the girlfriend visited and was never in her presence.
The deputy used a sick day on Tuesday, but made the decision Wednesday to report to work and interacted with multiple of the 15 aforementioned deputies before reporting his concern about the symptoms to a supervisor.
“The supervisor immediately ordered the deputy to leave the building and go directly home,” Kraus said. “The deputy drove to a local testing facility and was examined and tested for the virus. We were informed it will take three to four days to get the test results.”
Kraus said the deputy was instructed by medical personnel to self-quarantine for a period of fourteen days.
Kraus said the situation “has not negatively impacted, whatsoever, the operations of the Sheriff’s Office.”
“It should also be stressed that no one related to this matter has tested positive for COVID-19,” Kraus said. “The 15 deputies that were relieved of duty will be paid during their absences.”
Allegheny County Jail inmate releases
Allegheny County Jail this week released a list of actions being taken to protect inmates and employees from the spread of coronavirus and in that list stated that “all stakeholders are actively engaged and are motivated to consider any viable solutions to reduce or mitigate possible risks related to COVID-19, including the possible reduction of the inmate population. Ongoing discussions are occurring with the Office of the Public Defender, Court Administration, Probation and other affiliated parties to determine if there are any individuals that may be eligible for review.”
On Thursday, County Judges, Court Administration, the Allegheny County Jail, the Public Defender, the District Attorney’s Office, Adult Probation, Pretrial Services, and the Private Bar released a joint statement further explaining the jail releases.
“Staff in Criminal Court Administration, the Public Defender’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office are continually reviewing cases to determine which inmates are appropriate for release, the group said. “Those cases are then addressed in Motions Court or reviewed with the assigned judge depending on the circumstances.
“This review is not limited to just those inmates with health problems, although those cases are being considered first. The Public Defender’s Office is working to identify all non-violent inmates held only on cash bails.”
The statement indicates that so far, 189 inmate releases have been sent to the jail and that the releases are being processed as they are received. Those who are released are given a free phone call, free bus ticket, free Intranasal Narcan (Naloxone HCL) upon affirmative response at time of offer, packet of requested community resource information, letter of incarceration verification (upon request) and are also encouraged to take a flyer or business card to reach the Discharge & Release Center for assistance with future needs.
State changes to education amid COVID-19
The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced all PSSA testing, Keystone exams and PASA assessments for the 2019-20 school year are canceled as a result of COVID-19-related cancellations and precautions.
“Our school communities are operating within unprecedented conditions,” Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said. “Schools are making extraordinary efforts to remain connected to students and families, to provide food service and to put appropriate systems in place to continue student learning. Assessments should not be the focus of school leaders right now.”
Help for seniors during coronavirus mitigation
With the ongoing directive from Wolf and the state health department to stay home and limit social interaction during the COVID-19 mitigation effort, Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres today announced that as of March 5, the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program can help older adult enrollees with refill extensions.
“The department has fielded several calls from older Pennsylvanians who are heeding the state directive and who are concerned about potentially running out of their needed medications,” Secretary Torres said. “To help alleviate those fears, PACE is working to ensure older adults remain in their residences and receive their prescriptions when they desire them. All enrollees should be able to receive free home delivery of their medications from their pharmacies.”
Under regular circumstances, enrollees with prescriptions must use 75% of their supply before refills will be reimbursed. PACE will now reimburse refills even though the required 75% of the days’ supply has not passed – except for opioids and other controlled substances – which will be handled on a case by case basis. Enrollees wishing to receive that exception must have their pharmacy provider contact PACE at 1-800-835-8040, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to make that request. The program has traditionally not offered this exception unless an enrollee’s medications were lost or stolen. Enrollees who have difficulties obtaining their refills can call cardholder services at 1-800-225-7223.
Trib Total Media News Wire Services contributed to this report.
