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COVID-19: The Latest

Spread of coronavirus near Pittsburgh causes concern

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania reported 492 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and eight deaths on Monday and 505 cases and three deaths on Sunday, reflecting smaller daily tallies than the two previous days as concerns about rising infections has officials scrutinizing the numbers to look for trends. The Health Department’s figures from Friday and Saturday were around 600 new confirmed cases and 22 and 24 deaths, respectively. Pennsylvania has so far had nearly 86,000 confirmed infections and 6,614 deaths. The number of infections is thought to be far higher than the state’s ...

West Liberty University faculty help provide masks for returning staff

WEST LIBERTY — In an effort to supply masks to West Liberty University staff as they return to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the school has a willing seamstress busy stitching up protection. Meta Lasch, the school’s longtime technical director of theater, and her husband, Richard Deenis, have been creating cloth masks for about six weeks. They started to make them as a response to requests from people who knew of Lasch’s talent for sewing. Deenis is an adjunct member of the theater faculty and a carpenter. WLU Chief Human Resource Officer Diana Harto said Lasch has made ...

June 30: Events canceled/postponed due to coronavirus

Due to the precautions being taken surrounding the coronavirus, the following changes have been made regarding events and meetings in the local area: ¯ The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County will reopen July 6 in a limited capacity. Curbside pickup service also is available. ¯ Cadiz’s annual fireworks display has been canceled. ¯ The 74th-annual Weirton Steel Corp. 25-Year Club picnic set for July 18 has been canceled. ¯ A Caring Place Child Advocacy Center has canceled what would have been its rescheduled casino night fundraiser on July 18 at the ...

Allegheny County halts alcohol service

PITTSBURGH — Officials in western Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County are halting all on-site consumption of alcohol in bars and restaurants due to what they call an “alarming” spike in COVID-19 cases. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Dr. Debra Bogen, the county health department ...

COVID-19 deaths top 500K globally

ROME — The world surpassed two sobering coronavirus milestones Sunday -- 500,000 confirmed deaths, 10 million confirmed cases -- and hit another high mark for daily new infections as governments that attempted reopenings continued to backtrack and warn that worse news could be yet to come. “COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks,” said Gov. Greg Abbott, who allowed businesses to start reopening in early May but on Friday shut down bars and limited restaurant dining amid a spike in cases. California Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled ...

Outdoor activities provide opportunities for socially distanced fun

With the Fourth of July less than a week away, there is an extra emphasis on outdoor activities in the age of COVID-19 due to the open air as well as the ability to easily social distance. As such, a number of state parks have already opened while others plan to do so later this week, just in ...