Gov. Wolf, Pa. health secretary warn residents to follow protocols to stop spread of COVID-19

HARRISBURG, Pa. — After a weekend of record-setting COVID-19 numbers in western Pennsylvania and across the state, Gov. Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Deputy Secretary of Health Preparedness and Community Protection Ray Barishansky provided an update Monday about COVID-19.

Wolf issued stern warnings to state residents to follow coronavirus protocols in order to stop the spread of the virus.

“We must stop the spread of COVID-19, and to do that, we have to all act now,” said Wolf. “If we don’t slow the spread of this dangerous virus now, the reality is that COVID-19 will overwhelm our hospitals, will overwhelm our healthcare systems.”

Wolf did not issue a statewide shutdown order of any kind. Rather, he urged Pennsylvanians to do everything they can to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

“Right now, we all need to take a hard look at our choices and our actions,” Wolf said.

However, Wolf did say that if state officials have to “do more” regarding restrictions, they will.

Levine echoed the governor’s warnings, saying it is up to all residents in Pa. to help flatten the curve once again by wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands frequently and only making necessary trips to stores.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Saturday that the state has again hit the highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases, with 12,884 reported. Monday’s totals, which covered the past two days, reached more than 14,000.

>>>RELATED HEADLINE: PA again sees highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases with nearly 13,000 reported

This brings the statewide total to 411,484 cases, with 5,230 patients hospitalized.

Of the new cases, 1,197 of them are from Allegheny County, bringing the county’s total cases since March to 32,651.

Locally, Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen also voiced concerns with the recent surge in cases and hospitalizations:

“We join the state in calling for everyone to take action now. Like them, we continue to examine information from case investigations and data related to the numbers of cases, hospitalizations, ICU capacity, deaths and hospital staffing. We review these data continuously to determine if additional mitigation measures would be impactful based on what we are seeing. We would announce publicly any additional measures if and when any such decision is made.”

At-home COVID-19, flu combination test approved by FDA

Cox Media Group