Allegheny County Orders All Bars, Restaurants Closed

PITTSBURGH, PA — After an alarming spike in coronavirus cases this week, Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen has ordered all bars, restaurants and the Rivers Casino to close for a week. The order, which goes into effect starting Friday, does not ban food establishments from returning to take-out and delivery service as most did in earlier stages of the outbreak.

Additionally, Bogen ordered the cancellation of all events and activities of more than 25 people.

The moves came after the county announced 233 new coronavirus cases Thursday — more than double the previous single-day record of 110 set on Wednesday.

“I know that people were angry and frustrated with recent developments including the surge in cases, the prior order and recommendations, as well as the state mask order,” Bogen said in a news release. “I also realize that this newest order won’t make any of that better, but as health department director, I am charged with protecting, promoting, and preserving the health and well-being of all county residents, particularly the most vulnerable.

"This is not a decision that I’ve made lightly, but I believe it’s necessary based on
the new cases in the county and the community spread that is occurring.”

The orders are in addition to the restriction of on-premises alcohol consumption at any business establishment in Allegheny County that was issued on Sunday.

Bogen also recommended a voluntary stay-at-home protocol for residents of the county. She said that while not part of the order, limiting travel to necessities and other mitigation measures is intended to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the county.

Between June 20 and June 30, health department staff started investigations on 712 new cases of COVID-19.

New cases involve people ranging in age from 4 months to 97 years, with a median age of 27 years. Three-fourths of the new cases were among 19- to 49-year-olds. That age group now makes up about half of all the cases reported since March 14. The number of cases among 19- to 24-year-olds more than doubled since June 20 and now accounts for one-third of the new cases.

Since June 20, there have been 31 new hospitalizations. Thirteen of those have occurred during the last three days. Among the newly hospitalized, seven were in their 20s and 30s.

The trend among new cases remains consistent, health department officials said. They are younger people who traveled out of state or who visited bars and restaurants in and around the county.

Regarding recent cases:

• Four persons indicated during case investigation that they had attended a protest — and two of these had also visited bars and restaurants.

• New cases reported visiting over 40 different bars, restaurants and night clubs. About 15 establishments were identified more than once by new cases, who reported that in many of these locations, neither patrons nor employees wore masks or practiced physical distancing.

• Employees at 12 different restaurants or bars have tested positive.

• New cases reported traveling out of state to at least 60 different locations. Beach towns along the coast of the Carolinas including Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head; cities in Florida such as Miami, Orlando, Clearwater and Tampa; and Raleigh, Youngstown, Houston and Nashville have come up most often during interviews with new cases.