Mayor Peduto: Pittsburgh 'Slipped' Last Weekend, Tells Public Sacrifices Must Be Made In Fight Against Coronavirus
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The weather may be getting nicer, just in time for the weekend too, but Mayor Bill Peduto and Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich are emphasizing the importance of social distancing.
At a news conference in front of the Pittsburgh Police and K-9 Memorial statue, Mayor Peduto said, "social distancing is the only way we can win this war" against the coronavirus pandemic.
WATCH: City Officials Hold News Conference --
Coronavirus has been called an invisible enemy and if we want to beat it, everyone has to do their part.
Last weekend, city officials say Pittsburgh "slipped" in the warmer weather, forgetting just how serious this virus is. Parks were packed and people were seen in large groups.
In response, basketball rims were taken down and overlooks were closed to the public.
Peduto and Hissrich say sacrifices have to be made now to protect others. We will see the pay off in the long term, Peduto added.
Hissrich added that while there will be a larger police and park ranger presence outside this weekend; they will do all they can to keep from citing people.
Hissrich says the parks remain open with some restrictions to use of equipment. Says Police and Park Rangers will be out to remind people of proper social distancing.
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) April 3, 2020
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Here are a few guidelines they want people to follow: stay home, stay in your yard if you do go outside, choose less busy times to go to the park and completely avoid parties.
April is a critical month because Peduto says, it is when we'll more than likely see more cases and it will show if people are maintaining social distancing.
"We are not getting to that point where our hospital system and our medical system will see the type of stresses that they are seeing in New York," Peduto said. "However, that is not to say that isn't a possibility. What will really decide that is the actions of Pittsburghers over the next two weeks."
Mayor @billpeduto says we will be tempted to have picnics and have friends over, but we will have to be able to say no to our friends and family members and to AVOID gathering in public spaces. During this crisis we need a North Star, and ours in this crisis is Public Health .
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) April 3, 2020
While the county isn't looking to cite or arrest anyone, the county police are available if needed.
Hissrich says the city doesn't want to issue citations either.
But if the public doesn't cooperate this weekend, citations may come next weekend. Or they may just close all the city parks.
"This is like a bad dream, and we're trying to prevent it from becoming a total nightmare," Hissrich said.
Hissrich also offered an update on the Pittsburgh firefighter who tested positive for the virus. Hissrich says he remains self-isolated, but is doing well. The seven other firefighters he had contact with the day before are self-quarantining, but are expected to be fine.
In addition, city officials say one police officer and two EMS workers are also self-quarantining.
