COVID UPDATE 1/19: High risk people and those 65+ can now get vaccines
The Pennsylvania Department announced new updates to its vaccine distribution Tuesday, including the addition of anyone 65 and older to Phase 1A.
According to the COVID-19 Vaccines page on the department’s website, in addition to the elderly, people ages 16 to 64 who have high-risk conditions were also added to Phase 1A.
These conditions include more serious health issues, such as cancer, COPD and Down syndrome, but also include other conditions such as obesity, pregnancy and smoking.
Since its original inception, the state’s vaccine distribution plans have mirrored those produced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The updates Monday match those made at the federal level early last week.
A public livestream via Facebook of the press conference for noon Monday was promised, but the livestream did not appear on the page.
Meanwhile, the county’s coronavirus numbers continued to decrease.
According to Tuesday’s report by the Department of Health, the county added 42 new confirmed cases, a decrease for the fourth day in a row and its lowest single-day increase since a lag in reporting saw zero new cases and zero new deaths added on Jan. 3.
The death of one county resident was included in Tuesday’s report.
The following numbers on the coronavirus pandemic were compiled from regular news releases from the state Department of Health.COVID-19 statistics from Tuesday are:<b>Butler County</b>Confirmed cases: 7,790Probable cases: 4,064Negative tests: 41,599Deaths: 290<b>Pennsylvania</b>New cases: 5,341Total cases: 777,186New deaths: 77Total deaths: 19,467Recovered: 77%<b>Surrounding Counties</b>Allegheny: 51,973 confirmed cases; 324,007 negative; and 1,338 deathsArmstrong: 3,449 confirmed cases; 13,245 negative; and 90 deathsBeaver: 8,853 confirmed cases; 40,604 negative; and 295 deathsClarion: 1,554 confirmed cases; 6,718 negative; and 62 deathsLawrence: 3,950 confirmed cases; 15,983 negative; and 150 deathsMercer: 5,712 confirmed cases; 23,901 negative; and 196 deathsVenango: 2,411 confirmed cases; 9,340 negative; and 64 deathsWestmoreland: 17,042 confirmed cases; 78,474 negative; and 541 deaths.
