Is Allegheny County Entering The 'Last Phase Of The Pandemic'?

Pittsburgh PA

28 May, 2021

8:41 AM

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By PublicSource, Public Source May 28,2021 PublicSource has been tracking COVID-19's spread on a daily basis since March 2020. More than a year later, in an effort to direct our resources into enterprise reporting on the pandemic and other important issues, we will cover the Allegheny County Health Department's weekly briefing on Wednesdays and update the numbers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We may adjust as the prevalence of the coronavirus ebbs and flows. If you have questions or comments, please email PublicSource's managing editor [email protected]. Just in time for the almost-total reopening of Pennsylvania on Memorial Day, COVID-19 transmission in Allegheny County has declined in the past week to fewer than 100 new cases a day — the first time that's happened since September. Just in time for the almost-total reopening of Pennsylvania on Memorial Day, COVID-19 transmission in Allegheny County has declined in the past week to fewer than 100 new cases a day — the first time that's happened since September. "This is an exciting time," said Allegheny County Health Department [ACHD] Director Dr. Debra Bogen in a Wednesday press briefing. "With more and more people getting vaccinated, the number of new cases continues to decline." At least half of every eligible age group in the county has been at least partially vaccinated, except for 15-to-19 year-olds and 12-to-14 year-olds. The county has only just recently begun vaccinating children 12 to 15. The percentages of county residents who have received at least one vaccine dose vary among age groups: In late April and early May of 2021, 636 doses of Pfizer vaccines allocated to ACHD spoiled, according to a Tuesday report from Spotlight PA. This happened because these Pfizer vaccine doses – which need to be kept at extremely cold temperatures – thawed, which only gave the county five days to use them as per concurrent Food and Drug Administration guidelines. This five-day period hit when cancellations and missed appointments spiked, so the doses spoiled. "Again, this was a very small number of the 129,000 vaccines we've given," Bogen said. "It was very unfortunate, and we're working very hard to make sure it doesn't happen again." Since then, the FDA has updated its guidelines to allow for use of thawed Pfizer vaccines for up to 30 days. Throughout the briefing, Bogen spoke with more optimism than she has during other briefings in the pandemic. Because the cases have dropped to such a low point while vaccination rates continue to slowly climb, Bogen and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald will only be giving a briefing every other week, going forward. The next briefing will be June 2, and then June 16. ACHD will also cut its daily written updates on the pandemic down from six days a week to just three, on Mondas, Wednesdays and Fridays, she said. "If everyone is vaccinated by the end of the summer," Bogen said, "this could be our last phase of the pandemic." On May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings. The new masking guidelines have been adopted by Pennsylvania and are immediately in effect. "Today's guidance from the CDC affects only people who are fully vaccinated," Pennsylvania's Acting Secretary Alison Beam said. "This is another incentive to get the vaccine that is now easily and conveniently available. Once 70 percent of Pennsylvanians over 18 are fully vaccinated, we can completely lift the masking order." For more information on the CDC guidance, visit here. Resources COVID vaccine resources in the Pittsburgh region Housing and mental health supports amid COVID in Allegheny County Allegheny County's COVID-19 resource page with links to information on vaccines, testing sites and quarantine basics Allegheny County's map of vaccination sites (For more information or help with scheduling an appointment through Allegheny County's Area Agency on Aging, residents can call 412-350-4234.) Pennsylvania's COVID-19 vaccine rollout page This article was produced by PublicSource.org, a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. PublicSource tells stories for a better Pittsburgh. Sign up for their free email newsletters at publicsource.org/newsletters.