Allegheny County Coronavirus Deaths Spike Dramatically

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday reported 55 new coronavirus deaths, the largest number reported in a single day since the outbreak began in March. The county death toll now stands at 743, up from 688 on Wednesday.

The county reported 855 confirmed and probable new coronavirus cases. There have been 43,857 cases since the outbreak began in March, up from 43,007 on Wednesday.

The 606 confirmed cases came from 1,933 new tests - a positivity rate of 31 percent. For comparison purposes, the latest positivity rate for tests across Pennsylvania is 16 percent, state officials said.

There have been 2,709 hospitalizations during the outbreak, up from 2,669 on Wednesday.

With 15,138 cases in Westmoreland County, 7,036 in Butler County, 7,018 in Washington County and 6,593 in Beaver County, that brings the total number of cases to 79,652 when Allegheny County numbers are included. That's up from 77,843 on Wednesday.

According to the state Department of Health, there have been 1,502 deaths in the region from the virus: Seven hundred and forty-three in Allegheny County, 317 in Westmoreland County, 203 in Beaver County, 136 in Butler County and 103 in Washington County. That's up from 1,421 on Wednesday.

Because of the growing number of coronavirus cases and deaths across Pennsylvania, new mitigation measures went into effect on Saturday. Until Jan. 4, the state is restricting indoor dining and closing gyms, movie theaters and bowling alleys, as well as limiting gatherings and suspending youth sports.