March 29, 2020 7:24 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Severe weather in parts of western Pennsylvania prompted flood warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings – and for a time a tornado warning. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings Saturday afternoon for parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Lawrence, Butler, and Armstrong counties. Weather officials warned of “wind gusts to 60 mph and quarter-size hail” with damage to trees and power lines expected to result in some power outages. A tornado warning issued for parts of Jefferson, Washington, Beaver and Allegheny counties expired as the threat diminished, but weather officials warned residents to expect large hail and damaging winds.
March 29, 2020 3:14 am
In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced on Friday major changes for the celebration of Holy Week. They are as follows:
Bishop Zubik will live stream Masses and Prayer Services that people will be able to watch through the diocesan website. A list of parishes with live stream schedules will also be shared at www.diopitt.org.
All previous directives will remain in effect to adhere to the current government recommendation of no more than ten people gathered. For this reason, there will be no public celebration of liturgies.
Churches will not be open during scheduled Masses/liturgies but may remain open at other times for individuals who wish to make a short visit. People should contact their parishes to confirm times.
Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020: Bishop Zubik will celebrate a Mass that will be live streamed at 10 a.m. Priests throughout the diocese will also celebrate private Palm Sunday Masses and bless palms which will be made available for people to pick up at a later date when restrictions are lifted.
Holy Thursday, April 9, 2020: Bishop Zubik will celebrate the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, live streamed at 7:00 p.m. The Washing of the Feet, which is optional, will be omitted from observances this year.
Good Friday, April 10, 2020: Bishop Zubik will celebrate Friday of the Passion of the Lord, live streamed at 3:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday, April 11, 2020: The traditional ecumenical blessing over the City of Pittsburgh is postponed and will be rescheduled once the restrictions are lifted. There will be no blessing of Easter baskets. Bishop Zubik will celebrate the Easter Vigil, live streamed at 8:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020: Bishop Zubik will celebrate Holy Mass, live streamed at 10:00 a.m. The annual Blessing of Families at St. Paul Cathedral is cancelled.
March 29, 2020 3:11 am
Governor Tom Wolf announced a stay-at-home order for Washington County at his 1 p.m. press conference with Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine Saturday. Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughn told WJPA that she received a call from the Governor’s office earlier in the day. Washington joined Beaver and Centre counties in the announcement Saturday. Washington will now be one of 22 under a stay-at-home order from the Governor. This comes as Pennsylvania announces 533 new cases, 9 of which are for Washington County bringing the county’s total to 23.
March 28, 2020 5:15 pm
A unit of the Consol-Bailey Mine is closing due to Covid 19. Richard Martelli from Consol states that a second employee at the Crabapple location has tested positive for Covid-19. In an abundance of caution the Bailey Mine Crabapple location will cease production for the recommended 14 days. Other locations will remain operational. Employees will be contacted this weekend with further details.
March 28, 2020 9:18 am
BERLIN (AP) – The number of confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide has topped 600,000 as new cases stack up quickly in Europe and the United States and officials dig in for a long fight against the pandemic. The latest landmark on Saturday came only two days after the world passed half a million infections, according to a tally by John Hopkins University, showing that much work remains to be done to slow the spread of the virus. While the U.S. now leads the world in reported infections – with more than 104,000 cases – five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.
March 28, 2020 8:24 am
Washington County Coroner Tim Warco released a statement yesterday criticizing the state for failing to provide guidance to coroners and medical examiners. Warco says that while the state has given him instructions on how to handle COVID-19 related deaths in a hospital setting they “have not provided the Commonwealth’s coroners and medical examiners with the same sort of thorough guidance for home deaths.” Warco says the state Department of Health and state leadership have not provided a means for testing and have implied coroners may have no role at all. In the release, Warco says he along with the Pa. Coroners’ Association, “proactively sought direction from the state leadership as to our role in deaths with symptoms congruent with COVID-19.”
March 28, 2020 7:54 am
Spain has seen its deadliest day yet during the coronavirus crisis with 832 deaths reported on Saturday for a total of 5,690 fatalities. Infections have increased by over 8,000 in 24 hours to reach a national total of 72,248. Finnish police and assisting military forces and border guard officials have started to enforce a blockade of a key southern region that includes the Nordic nation’s capital, Helsinki. The Albanian government has announced that people will have to apply for a permit to go out for necessities following stricter measures to contain the virus outbreak.
March 28, 2020 6:57 am
ISLAMABAD (AP) – Pakistan’s foreign ministry says that China has sent a plane loaded with medical personnel and supplies to help with the fight against the spread of the coronavirus in the nation of 220 million people. The aid came even as Pakistan’s prime minister refused to impose a countrywide lockdown or close mosques to crowds as of Saturday. China has sought to portray itself as a global leader in the fight against the outbreak, which began a few months ago in its Wuhan province. Across the Middle East, the outbreak has raised concerns that health systems strapped by multiple wars, refugee crises and unstable economies won’t be able to handle a growing numbers in cases. Iran is battling the worst outbreak in the region. with over 2,500 deaths from the virus and around 35,000 confirmed cases.
March 28, 2020 6:55 am
UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The United Nations says the 191 parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty have decided to postpone a conference to review its implementation because of the coronavirus pandemic. The treaty is considered the cornerstone of global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and the parties hold a major conference every five years to discuss how it is working. The meeting was scheduled to be held from April 27-May 22 at U.N. headquarters in New York. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the review conference will be held “as soon as the circumstances permit, but no later than April 2021.
March 28, 2020 5:57 am
Giant Eagle has announced that three of its employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The grocery store chain says that locations in New Kensington, Wexford, North Huntingdon, Brunwsick and Altoona have been affected. Grocery stores have remained open as ‘life-sustaining’ businesses. Giant Eagle has said that all of its stores have been cleaned and sanitized, and will remain open.
