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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr Debra Bogen has made a statement as COVID-19 cases hit an all-time high on Black Friday.
According to Dr Bogen, if cases continue to increase at their current rate, the county’s health systems will be overwhelmed over the next month.
At that time, she said health systems are equipped to handle cases right now.
“We know it can take two weeks for the behavior changes to impact the spread of the virus and for the number of cases to decrease, which is why I am asking you to start now,” Dr Bogen said in his statement.
She urges residents of Allegheny County to respect the stay at home notice.
Dr Bogen also announced that due to the number of new cases, case investigators need to prioritize who they are talking to. As of Friday, case investigators will no longer be able to immediately call people with new cases, aged 6 to 17 and 45 to 59. This development may change as the daily rate of cases decreases.
Allegheny County released its new COVID-19 numbers on Friday – 1,642 new cases in 48 hours.
“It’s super worrying. You don’t want to see the numbers go up. It’s scary, ”said Tristan Brown who lives in Lawrenceville.
Health professionals fear this is just the beginning.
“People who traveled immediately before and after Thanksgiving and who unfortunately contracted the SARS virus will likely be the most contagious by Tuesday or Wednesday,” said Dr Arvind Venkat, emergency physician for Allegheny Health Network.
This timeline means health officials won’t have an accurate picture of the community on Thanksgiving Day until the end of next week.
“We expect that the number of people who have been in contact with the virus, who are infected and who may need treatment, will increase. Our hospital system is ready to adapt to this, ”said Dr Donald Yealy, UPMC Senior Medical Director.
“I understand how difficult it is to stay disciplined. But the alternative is much worse. We can do these simple things. Please do them, ”Yealy added.
Venkat said the Allegheny Health Network is also prepared with space, but now the public must help protect the front lines.
More information on the coronavirus pandemic:
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