Coronavirus In Pennsylvania: Emergency Declaration In Effect For Allegheny County Amid Spreading Virus
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- An emergency declaration is in effect for Allegheny County in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
County Executive Rich Fitzgerald signed the order on Thursday morning to try and prevent the disease from spreading.
There are currently no cases of the coronavirus in our area, but local leaders are getting ready.
"Looking at this as a community response because I think we're going to also have to work together as systems and as hospitals to also leverage our resources together," Dr. Brian Parker of AGHN said.
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During a briefing on Thursday with Allegheny County, UPMC and AHN, testing for the virus was a major topic.
Officials say there has been a bottleneck in the collection of specimens due to very strict requirements for testing, like have the availability of proper masks and gowns. Testing is not available on-demand.
Dr. Kristtetn Mertz, a medical epidemiologist for ACHD, says those requirements were just recently relaxed, and officials should be able to begin testing more people.
But that doesn't mean they will test everyone who requests one.
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Health experts continue to push typical preventive methods.
Individuals who need immediate medical attention should call 911 instead of driving to a hospital.
"This virus, for most people, is a mild illness. The people at risk are the elderly and those with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems," said Dr. Debra Bogen, the incoming director of ACHD. "That's the good news, that most people with this illness have mild symptoms. But if you are sick, please stay home and keep your children home as well, if they are sick. And use all of the hygiene etiquette that everyone has been emphasizing."
All businesses and schools were encouraged on Thursday to formulate plans in case there is a need to close.
There are 22 cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, all in the eastern part of the state.
