Stephen Dunn / AP
The federal government is beginning to vaccinate nursing home workers and residents in Pennsylvania against the coronavirus.
As part of the federal coronavirus response dubbed Operation Warp Speed, the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is available through a partnership with Walgreens and CVS, said Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine.
Nursing homes have been hit especially hard by the virus. Older people are more susceptible to its worst outcomes, and close quarters make it easier to spread. At least 8,470 deaths from COVID-19 in Pa. more than half were among nursing home residents. More than 51,400 residents and 9,200 long-term care workers have tested positive for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Will Begin Reaching Pa Nursing Homes weny.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from weny.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
That means that one-third of the county’s total COVID fatalities since the start of the pandemic have occurred in December.
According to the state, there are 767 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Allegheny County, including 197 in intensive care units.
Allegheny County’s fatalities are also outpacing those in Philadelphia this month, despite the fact that Philadelphia is home to 368,000 more people.
Just under 10 percent of all Pennsylvania deaths from COVID-19 have occurred this month in Allegheny County, which comprises around 10 percent of the state s population.
Both Allegheny County and Pennsylvania have set multiple single-day records for COVID-19 cases and deaths in December. The surge started in early fall and picked up pace following Thanksgiving.
Pa. colleges and universities alter plans for spring semester due to COVID-19
Updated Dec 22, 2020;
Posted Dec 22, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot about college life but Shippensburg University student Chase Slenker (at left) said students are making the most of each day. He is shown here with fellow students Alex Stoner and Erica Weaver sorting candy and items for a residence hall grab-bag.
Submitted photo
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COVID-19 is sure lousing up spring semester plans at Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities .
Semester starts are being delayed. Spring breaks cancelled. Remote instruction is the only way classes are offered on some campuses. And more frequent virus testing is in store for some students once they return to campus.
All Pa. counties continue to have substantial spread of COVID-19, but positive test rate dips
Updated Dec 21, 2020;
Posted Dec 21, 2020
Jill Johnson administers the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Ken Bittner, a medical transporter with UPMC Pinnacle Community LifeTeam. UPMC frontline workers receive the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg Hospital, December 18, 2020.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
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All 67 counties in Pennsylvania continue to see a substantial spread of the coronavirus, but the statewide rate of positive tests has dipped, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said Monday.
The percentage of positive cases dropped to 15.8% in the week of Dec. 11-17, down from 16.2% the previous week.