Allegheny County reports 246 new positive COVID-19 cases Wednesday, 5 additional deaths

PITTSBURGH — The spike in COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County continued Wednesday with 246 new positive cases reported, according to the Allegheny County Health Department.

With Wednesday’s new cases, the county’s total is now at 5,610. The new positive cases come out of 2,944 test results from June 30 through July 14.

In the newest cases, ages range from 2 months to 102 years old, with the average age being 34.

There have been five additional deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 204.

There has also been one new hospitalization.

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The county has seen a surge in coronavirus cases in recent weeks. Allegheny County reported 331 new cases Tuesday, a new single-day record.

One of the biggest things Allegheny County leaders talked about during Wednesday’s news conference is the demand for testing.

And now they're prioritizing.

County health officials just released a list of those who should get tested.

If you have symptoms, they say you should get tested, and stay at home until you get those results.

Even if your test comes back negative, they want you to continue to stay in isolation for 10 days until after you first started having symptoms.

“I know this is a departure from the guidance i gave a few weeks ago but the spread of the virus has changed dramatically, during that time and we have to be flexible and responsive to what we can do,” said Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen said.

They also mentioned that health care workers and first responders who have come in contact with a known positive case or have had high risk travel should also get tested.

You can watch the briefing LIVE HERE at 4 p.m.

Across the Pennsylvania there were 994 additional positive cases of COVID-19 reported Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 97,665.

There are 6,957 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 26 new deaths.

There are 870,984 patients who have tested negative to date.

Major testing delays behind massive spike in Allegheny Co. COVID-19 numbers Major testing delays behind massive spike in Allegheny Co. COVID-19 numbers

Cox Media Group