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Top Allegheny County leaders participating in COVID-19 vaccine trial

ALLEGHENY CO., Pa. — Allegheny County leaders said that a lot of what happens in the next few weeks and months is dependent on any surges in COVID-19 infections once students return to classrooms.

“We are working closely with our partner organizations to track cases on our campuses,” Dr. Debra Bogen, director of the Allegheny County Health Department, said at a weekly COVID-19 briefing. “Often surges take two or three weeks to emerge, so we’re paying close attention.”

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One snag health department workers have run into when trying to perform contact tracing with students at area colleges and universities is that students often give officials their home address.

“They aren’t using the address here at their school, which means we as a health department don’t get notified, and it delays our contact tracing,” said Bogen.

Bogen said she’s concerned about reports of scammers posing as contact tracers and asking for financial information from people who may have been infected.

“I am extremely angry that people are taking advantage of people’s vulnerabilities,” she said. “We will never ask for your social security number, your financial information or your bank account. If you are asked for any financial information, please hang up and contact your local police department. This is not the health department calling you.”

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Both Bogen and Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald said they are participating in a Moderna vaccine trial for COVID-19. Bogen said she got an injection Monday, and Fitzgerald said he got one Wednesday.

“As a pediatrician, I have great confidence in vaccines,” Bogen said.

She said she doesn’t know if the injection she received was the vaccine or a placebo, but she will give blood and be monitored in the coming months.

Researchers need 750 people to enroll in the vaccine trial for the study to be successful, Bogen said.

“I encourage people to volunteer,” she said. “I want to be part of the solution. Like all of you, I want to visit with my brothers and sisters.”

Though Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday eased guidelines on school sporting events, allowing spectators, Fitzgerald urged fans to use common sense.

“Regardless of where it goes locally, we still want to make sure people follow the guidance.,” he said. “This isn’t opening the stands and everyone comes rushing in. The more we all wear our masks, socially distance and wash our hands, the more we cooperate, the more openness we can have.”

Fitzgerald said county officials have had discussions about easing restrictions on indoor dining as cooler weather heads to the region, making outdoor dining less of an option.

“We are waiting to see what happens once the schools return with students in classes. We know that indoor dining, with people removing their masks and sitting down for an extended period is one of the highest chances of contracting the virus.”

Bogen said they encourage people to enjoy the upcoming Labor Day weekend, but to do it responsibly.

“We are encouraging people to get outside, get fresh air, have a picnic with friends, go on bike rides,” she said. “Enjoy the beautiful late summer, early fall weather we are having. But wear your mask and keep socially distant.”

Fitzgerald said he recognizes the frustration some have with the restrictions, but said easing the guidelines is dependent on the behavior of residents.

“This has been a summer like no other. And we’ll be entering a fall like no other following a spring like no other,” he said. “We want to have as many things open and operating as possible. But that only happens if people wear their masks and follow the guidelines.”