Jul 29, 2020 2 min read

Allegheny County is beginning to see an uptick in new COVID-19 cases being related to attendance of private parties, weddings and church services.

The most common link to exposure in the county still involved visits to bars and restaurants as the state’s mitigation efforts appear to be flattening the upward curve of virus cases, county officials said Wednesday.

“We still have a long way to go,” county Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.

Allegheny Health Director Debra Bogen said there also is an increase in new cases being linked to attendance of funerals and gyms.

“Avoid congregating,” Bogen said.

There were 72 cases in Allegheny associated with private parties between July 12 and 18, county records show. There were just two such findings by contact tracers between June 14 and 20.

Allegheny reported five new COVID-19 deaths Wednesday and yet another day of new cases in the three digits.

The 125 new cases in Allegheny were among the 834 Pennsylvania reported statewide Wednesday as test reporting data continued to lag.

“Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach,” state Health Secretary Rachel Levine said. “However, we know the virus has not gone away as we see cases rise, so we must work together to stop another surge.”

She said mask wearing is required in public and all businesses to help slow the spread of the disease.

Washington County reported 11 new cases of the virus, taking its total to 710 since March. Greene County had three new cases when its total inched to 103. Fayette County reported 16 new cases to its total of 352. There were no new deaths reported in those counties.

A team Allegheny formed last week to inspect COVID-19 mitigation compliance has visited 350 establishments and found that 87% of the businesses, including restaurants, received satisfactory ratings, Bogen said.

The other 13% had at least one item to correct, and the most common violation was staff members not wearing masks, she said.