ACHD: majority of cases, hospitalizations, deaths from COVID-19 among unvaccinated

PITTSBURGH — With nearly two-thirds of Allegheny County residents aged 10 and older with at least one COVID-19 shot, health department director Dr. Debra Bogen says the the daily number of cases remains low.

“I really don’t think that vaccine access is the main issue anymore,” Bogen said during a news conference Wednesday. “The issue now is getting accurate information into the hands of trusted messengers in those communities with low rates of vaccination.”

Bogen said the biggest challenge is combatting misinformation and changing deeply held beliefs among small communities and individuals. She said at least 93% of the 163 deaths in Allegheny County from April to June were people who were not at all or only partially vaccinated.

Allegheny County has gone more than a week without having a single death related to the virus, however.

Delta variant in Allegheny County

Bogen said the Delta variant is present in Allegheny County, but that we’re not seeing the same impacts from it as other parts of the country or world.

She said there have been nine cases of it so far, ranging all the way back to March.

Bogen said it is concerning seeing the impact in other areas and that the health department would continue to keep a close eye on it.

Situation in Westmoreland County

According to our partners at TribLive.com, there are three people hospitalized for COVID-19 in all of Westmoreland County. It is averaging five cases each day.

Fast-moving fire spreads to three homes in McKeesport

©2021 Cox Media Group