Watch CBS News

City Of Pittsburgh Unable To Open Cooling Centers This Summer Due To Coronavirus

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The spray park in Troy Hill was busy Tuesday afternoon.

"Trying to keep cool with the kids. Nothing better to do. Can't go to the pool, so you have to find the water park," said Eartha Worthy.

"If it wasn't for COVID, I'd be in the pool by now," said Shayel Darjee.

Some of the kids didn't seem to miss the swimming pool, though.

"Before we got into the water, the sun was way too hot, but whenever we got in the water now it's pretty cool," said B. Jauhn Dankins.

However for some, they prefer staying inside with the air conditioning blasting, and this summer, it's even more than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"You have people working from home. When they would leave their house to go to work, they'd turn their heat down or their air down. Now, we are using them all day," said Hollie Geitner with Duquesne Light.

The concern is an increase in power outages. Duquesne Light said they've noticed residential electricity use go up 5 to 10 percent due to COVID.

"You think about these temperatures. We aren't going below 70 overnight. That doesn't allow the system to recover. It's continuing to work just as hard as it was during the day," said Geitner.

The city of Pittsburgh typically uses its senior centers for cooling centers but they are closed this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic since seniors are most at-risk of being hospitalized with the virus. The city said it's not safe to open the centers at this time.

No alternatives are being offered to keep too many people from gathering in one place.

KDKA Meteorologist Ron Smiley says Monday was the hottest day yet with the high hitting 94 degrees in Pittsburgh. Temperatures in the 90s are on tap for today too, and then through the rest of the week.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.