March 15, 2020 7:32 am
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WPXI) — UPMC has developed a test for the novel coronavirus, hospital officials announced Saturday. The health system will use this test to diagnose select, symptomatic cases. The health system plans to rapidly increase capacity at its central laboratory and, if there is a need, could test hundreds of patients per week in the near future, filling a critical gap before other commercial tests come online. UPMC will begin directing patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to a specimen collection site in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood on Tuesday. The site is not open to the general public. People who show up without an appointment, will not be tested. Patients must have a referral. Patients who are tested will get a diagnosis in hours, not days. So far, 300 they’ve tested over 300 samples of patients with cold symptoms. No one has tested positive. UPMC says they’ve worked around the clock to develop their test and create the collection site.
March 14, 2020 10:34 am
GREENSBURG, PA (WPXI) — Westmoreland County commissioners declared a disaster emergency Saturday morning in response to the coronavirus. They made the announcement during a news conference Saturday. This is a preventative measure, and there are no cases have been reported in Westmoreland County. A special election scheduled for Tuesday will go on as planned, officials said.
March 14, 2020 4:15 am
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) – An attorney says a Maryland man who was shot and killed by a police officer was asleep in his bedroom when police opened fire from outside his house. The 21-year-old man’s girlfriend was also wounded. The Montgomery County Police Department said in a news release Friday that Duncan Socrates Lemp “confronted” police and was fatally shot by one of the officers early Thursday. An attorney for Lemp’s relatives said police couldn’t have any justification for shooting Lemp based on what she has heard. Lemp’s family says the warrant police obtained to search their Potomac home doesn’t mention any “imminent threat.” A police spokesman didn’t immediately respond to the family’s statement.
March 14, 2020 4:14 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Wall Street roared back from its worst day in 30 years with a broad rally that sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average nearly 2,000 points higher – its biggest point gain ever. áThe rally accelerated after President Donald Trump declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency. The Dow saw its largest percentage gain since 2008. The rally recouped many of the losses from a day earlier, when the index experienced its worst slide since the Black Monday crash of 1987 and European indexes had one of the worst drops on record. The major indexes each closed with gains of more than 9%.
March 14, 2020 4:13 am
PHOENIX (AP) – The U.S. government says a new rule disqualifying more people from green cards if they use government benefits will not apply to immigrants who seek care for symptoms of the illness caused by coronavirus. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said late Friday that seeking treatment or preventive services won’t affect someone’s immigration status under the new public charge rule, which took effect last month. The announcement came after lawmakers and advocacy groups urged the government to suspend the rule during the coronavirus outbreak. Advocates say they have been fielding panicked calls from immigrants who are worried about the impact on their status if they seek health care.
March 14, 2020 4:09 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Elections officials in the four states holding presidential primaries next week say they have no plans to postpone voting amid widespread disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. They say they are confident voters will be able to safely cast their ballots on Tuesday. They have been scrambling to recruit replacements for poll workers who are dropping out over fears of contracting the virus, providing cotton swabs for voters to use on touchscreen machines and extending absentee voting deadlines. Only one state, Louisiana, announced plans to postpone its primary, which was scheduled for early April.
March 14, 2020 3:57 am
Governor Tom Wolf announced Friday that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16. The administration has been working with school districts as well as state and local officials to gather input on this decision. The Wolf Administration will continue to monitor Covid-19 in the commonwealth, and at the end of 10 days will reevaluate and decide whether continued closure is needed. Governor Wolf made the following statement: “We understand that these are trying times and recognize the impact of the coronavirus on our students and communities. First and foremost, my top priority as governor – and that of our education leaders – must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities. As such, I am ordering that all schools in the commonwealth close for the next two weeks. Be aware that no school district will be penalized if it fails to meet the 180 day or school hours requirements. The Department of Education will work with intermediate units and other stakeholders to support school districts with any continuity of learning plans they may be pursuing. Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced today that it received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow eligible schools to serve meals to low income students in a non-congregate setting, such as a drive-through or grab and go, during this closure. We will also work with schools to assist them with those plans.
March 14, 2020 3:53 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. (WPXI) — A presumptive case of coronavirus has been announced in Washington County. This is the first case in western Pennsylvania. County officials said the person has not yet been named, but they were treated at a private practice, tested positive and their results were sent to the state. The private practice has not yet been named either. As of 5 p.m. on March 13, there are 35 total presumptive cases in the state and 6 cases that have been confirmed by the CDC. The state has not specified which cases are presumptive and which are confirmed, but below are the counties impacted. Even though this is the first case locally, Pittsburgh-area colleges started taking precautions weeks ago. The state health department suggests washing your hands often, disinfecting shared spaces and staying home if you feel sick.
March 14, 2020 3:37 am
Bishop David Zubik issued the following statement on Thursday, March 12, 2020: “Following a joint conference call with all the bishops of Pennsylvania, effective immediately and until further notice, I wish to share with you that in union with all my brother bishops I am dispensing the faithful of the Diocese of Pittsburgh from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. “Despite the suspension of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, all regularly scheduled Masses will remain open to the public for those who wish to attend. “Regarding other sacramental events, such as confirmation, further announcements will be forthcoming in the near future. “With this announcement, it is most important that we increase our personal prayer and fasting as we look to God as our strength in this critical time.”
March 14, 2020 3:32 am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – Gov. Jim Justice has shuttered schools statewide in response to the coronavirus pandemic, even though West Virginia is one of the last states in America without a confirmed case. Justice says the closures going into effect as the school day ends Friday will last as long as necessary. As of Friday afternoon, state health officials said West Virginia has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. They said 31 people have been tested, with 26 negatives and five tests still pending. But Justice said that with so few tests being done, people could be infected and not know it.
