Allegheny Co. Reports Near-Record New Coronavirus Death Numbers

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday reported 53 new coronavirus deaths, just two shy of the daily record of 55 set last week. The county death toll now stands at 847, up from 794 on Wednesday.

There were 912 confirmed and probable new coronavirus cases. There have been 49,650 cases since the outbreak began in March, up from 48,908 on Wednesday.

The 630 confirmed cases came from 1,958 new tests - a positivity rate of 32 percent. For comparison purposes, the latest positivity rate for tests across Pennsylvania is 15.8 percent, state officials said.

There have been 3,057 hospitalizations during the outbreak, up from 3,012 on Tuesday.

With 17,406 cases in Westmoreland County, 8,198 in Butler County, 7,974 in Washington County and 7,702 in Beaver County, that brings the total number of cases to 91,930 when Allegheny County numbers are included. That's up from 89,152 on Wednesday.

According to the state Department of Health, there have been 1,714 deaths in the region from the virus: Eight hundred and forty-three in Allegheny County, 365 in Westmoreland County, 227 in Beaver County, 156 in Butler County and 119 in Washington County. That's up from 1,643 on Wednesday.

Because of the growing number of coronavirus cases and deaths across Pennsylvania, new mitigation measures are in effect until Jan. 4. The state has restricted indoor dining and closed gyms, movie theaters and bowling alleys, as well as limiting gatherings and suspending youth sports.