April 13, 2020 4:14 am
NEW YORK (AP) – More than 3,600 deaths have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide, an alarming rise in just the past two weeks. Because the federal government has not been releasing a count of its own, The Associated Press has kept its own running tally based on media reports and state health departments. The latest count of at least 3,621 deaths is up from about 450 deaths just 10 days ago. Experts say even that is likely an undercount because most state numbers don’t include those who died without ever being tested for COVID-19.
April 13, 2020 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States’ top infectious disease expert says the economy in parts of the country could have a “rolling reentry” as early as next month, provided health authorities can quickly identify and isolate people who will inevitably be infected with the coronavirus. Dr. Anthony Fauci also says he “can’t guarantee” that it will be safe for Americans to vote in person on Election Day, Nov. 3. Fauci says a gradual return to normal will be required based on the status of the new coronavirus pandemic in various parts of the country and the availability of rapid, widespread testing.
April 13, 2020 4:10 am
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Strong storms pounding the Deep South have killed at least 18 people in Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia, and dozens of people have been hospitalized. The Chattanooga, Tennessee area appears particularly hard-hit, with search and rescue teams responding to hundreds of calls for help. Ten states have been under flash flood, tornado and thunderstorm warnings and watches overnight. Around 750,000 customers are without electricity. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said when he declared a state of emergency that “this is not how anyone wants to celebrate Easter.” The National Weather Service said the severe weather is now moving into the mid-Atlantic region.
April 13, 2020 4:09 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Gov. Tom Wolf says the Pennsylvania labor department has started sending out expanded federal unemployment compensation payments provided by the coronavirus relief package approved by Congress. The measure temporarily provides an additional $600 per week and makes self-employed, independent contractors and gig workers eligible for benefits. It also extends unemployment compensation benefits for an additional 13 weeks. The federal benefits are in addition to Pennsylvania’s regular unemployment benefit, which is about half of a person’s full-time weekly income up to $572 per week for 26 weeks.
April 13, 2020 4:03 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – An undisclosed number of residents at a West Virginia University dormitory complex have been ordered to self-quarantine after someone living there tested positive for the new coronavirus. The university says the Monongalia County health department notified WVU of the positive test Sunday. The individual has been isolated, and residents of the Evansdale Residential Complex must quarantine until they are tested starting Monday and the results are known. Employees of the complex also must be tested. WVU has been closed since March 20 and has prohibited students from returning to campus from spring break. The school has shifted almost all instruction online.
April 13, 2020 2:51 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI)– Two residents at Concordia at the Orchard have died after testing positive for coronavirus. The facility is a personal care home in Butler County. Additionally, two residents at a South Hills senior center have tested positive. The two patients live at Friendship Village of South Hills. One resident is in isolation and the other is being treated at a hospital.
April 13, 2020 2:33 am
DONORA, Pa. – A Donora man has become the first known fatality of a Washington County resident due to complications of COVID-19. Devin Taquino, 47 passed away at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh on Friday. According to a GoFundMe page set up in his honor, Taquino was dealing with what he thought was an intestinal issue. Days later, symptoms of a cough began, and he went to get tested for the Coronavirus. The page says he was admitted to the hospital March 25 and placed on a ventilator March 29. His condition worsened and he died. The fundraising page says his family only spoke with him on the phone a limited amount of times before he died. No visitors were allowed to see him because of the pandemic. According to his obituary, Taquino leaves behind his wife Becky and his children Jonathon, Kristofer and Madyline, as well as a brother Rob who lives in New York. Funeral proceedings are limited to immediate family due to health concerns.
April 12, 2020 8:36 am
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World plans to stop paying wages to 43,000 workers in about a week while allowing them to keep their benefits for up to a year in what is the largest wave of furloughs since the theme park resort closed in mid-March because of the new coronavirus spread. Workers will be able to keep their medical, dental and life insurance benefits for the length of the furlough period, or up to a year. Seniority and wage rates will remain unchanged for the workers whose furloughs start April 19, according to a statement from the Service Trades Council, the coalition of unions representing the Disney World workers. About 200 workers will remain on the job performing “essential duties” during the closure, and they will be offered positions based on seniority, the union said. The agreement with the Service Trades Council marked the largest group of workers at Disney World to come to terms on furloughs with the company during the outbreak. With 77,000 workers, Disney World is the largest single-site group of workers in the nation.
April 12, 2020 8:34 am
NEW YORK (AP) — As health officials around the world push to get more ventilators to treat coronavirus patients, some doctors are moving away from using the breathing machines when they can. The reason: Some hospitals have reported unusually high death rates for coronavirus patients on ventilators, and some doctors worry that the machines could be harming certain patients. The evolving treatments highlight the fact that doctors are still learning the best way to manage a virus that emerged only months ago. They are relying on anecdotal, real-time data amid a crush of patients and shortages of basic supplies. Mechanical ventilators push oxygen into patients whose lungs are failing. Using the machines involves sedating a patient and sticking a tube into the throat. Deaths in such sick patients are common, no matter the reason they need the breathing help.
April 12, 2020 8:03 am
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Joe Biden has won the Alaska Democrats’ party-run presidential primary, beating Sen. Bernie Sanders days after Sanders suspended his campaign. Biden beat Sanders Saturday 55.3% to 44.7%. A total of 19,759 votes were cast. Biden gets 11 delegates and Sanders gets 4. Sanders would have won more delegates but after ending his bid for the nomination last week, Sanders is no longer eligible to win delegates based on the statewide vote in primaries and caucuses, according to Democratic National Committee rules. Sanders is, however, still eligible to win delegates based on vote totals in individual congressional districts, which is why the AP allocated four delegate to Sanders in Alaska. Overall, Biden has 1,228 delegates and Sanders has 918, according to the count by The Associated Press
