UPDATE: Allegheny County Coronavirus Cases Now at Four

This article is outdated. Please see updated article HERE.

UPDATE: 3/15/20 2:30 PM

Allegheny Health Network Confirms Treatment of Confirmed COVID-19 Patient at Jefferson Hospital. See their official press release below.

"Pittsburgh, PA (March 15, 2020) – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) has confirmed that Jefferson Hospital is currently treating an adult patient with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19.) The Network’s caregivers at Jefferson are following comprehensive safety protocols established by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in caring for the patient and in taking every step necessary to prevent illness exposure to others, including patients, visitors and caregivers. Those precautions have been followed though every step of the patient’s care in the hospital. A limited number of clinical staff are caring for the patient, and those caregivers are wearing advanced protective equipment at all times. The hospital is currently limiting visitation with the patient, and all visitors are required to follow CDC-recommended precautions, including wearing protective face masks and gowns, and washing hands before and after the visitation.

The Allegheny County Health Department is taking the lead in assessing who in the community the patient may have come in contact with.  

There will be no further information provided on the patient at Jefferson at this time, and there will be no media availability with AHN representatives today."

UPDATE: 3/15/20 1:15 PM

Allegheny County Health Department officials announced a 4th case of Coronavirus in the county.

The individuals are adults, both in their 60s. One person is currently hospitalized, and the other is in isolation at home.

This brings the count in Allegheny County up to four.

See their social post below for more information. At the time of this post update, ACHD notes that PA Health site has not been updated to reflect this addition.

UPDATE: 3/15/20 12:00 PM

PA State health officials announced another new case of coronavirus in Allegheny County. That brings the total to three cases in Allegheny County. There is one in Washington County and the statewide total is now 63 cases.

Health officials say there have been 446 patients tested and out of those: 205 have tested negative, 63 cases are confirmed, and 183 samples are either at the lab for testing or are on the way to the lab.

Counties impacted to date include:

• Allegheny (3) 
• Bucks (4)
• Chester (2)
• Cumberland (5)
• Delaware (7)
• Lehigh (1)
• Luzerne (1)
• Monroe (6)
• Montgomery (24)
• Northampton (1)
• Philadelphia (6)
• Pike (1)
• Washington (1)
• Wayne (1)

READ MORE HERE

UPDATE: Official Press Release - 3/14/20 2:20 PM

Allegheny Health Network Statement on Allegheny County’s First Confirmed COVID-19 Patients

Pittsburgh, PA (March 14, 2020) - Two adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 were evaluated in the emergency department of AHN West Penn Hospital on Friday, March 13, 2020, and subsequently discharged home for quarantine. Both patients were tested for the virus through their independent primary care physician. West Penn had advance notice of the patients’ impending arrival to the hospital, and all precautions were taken to effectively prevent exposure of the virus to the hospital’s caregivers and support staff.  

No additional details will be provided about the patients in question and media should direct follow up inquiries to the Allegheny County Department of Health.

UPDATE: Press Conference Notes - 3/14/20 2:00 PM

• There are two confirmed cases in Allegheny county.
• Individuals are both adults.
• One in 70s and other in 60s.
• They Live in the same household.
• Both in isolation in their home and did not require hospitalization.
• They were both tested at an Allegheny County health facility.
• Both came into contact with the virus while out of state.
• Currently, there is NO evidence of community spread in Allegheny county.
• Follow safe health guidelines. Do not sneeze into your hands, wash hands frequently, etc.
• Stay home if you're sick.
• If you plan to go to any Dr's office because you believe you have come in contact with #COVID19, please call ahead so they can take the necessary precautions.
• Local testing is not open to the public and must come by a Physician's Request.
• Testing will be provided to people with or without health insurance free of charge.
• Allegheny county has sent 26 samples to the state testing laboratory. They are aware of more being sent to commercial labs.

You can watch the full press conference below.

Original Article: 3/14/20

ACHD announced that they would be holding a press conference at 2 pm today (March 14th) to release information on the first #COVID19 cases in Allegheny County.

You can watch that press conference on the WPXI Live Stream below.

As of 2:00 pm - The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting that the current count of presumptive positive cases statewide is up to 47 cases.

Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images.