PITTSBURGH – Following this morning’s announcement of two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in

Allegheny County, County Manager William D. McKain CPA announced additional operations changes

in the county.

 

Emergency Services

The Emergency Operations Center has been activated in Moon Township. Dedicated staffing

will perform ongoing monitoring and assist communities with resource requests.

 

Allegheny County declared an emergency on March 12. Since then, three municipalities have

also made such declarations including Millvale, Pittsburgh and Shaler.

 

Fire Academy

The Allegheny County Fire Academy has suspended all training at the academy through April

19, 2020. All mission-critical training will continue as scheduled. Fire Academy operations will

continue as normal with full-time staff reporting; however, there is a possibility that additional

assignments will be received to support Emergency Services in its mission.

 

Human Services

Individuals who may be experiencing fear, anxiety or stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic

are encouraged to speak with someone to assist in emotional support:

Peer Support and Advocacy Network (PSAN)

10 AM to Midnight

1-866-661-WARM (9726)

resolve Crisis Services

24 hours/7 days a week

1-888-796-8226

Additional information and resources on mental health care can be found at the Substance

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website. The agency’s Disaster Distress

Hotline is 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. People with deafness or hearing loss

can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990.

 

Police Academy

The Allegheny County Police Academy is ceasing its academy cadet class effective March 17

with plans to return on April 1. Similarly, all mandatory in-service training classes for municipal

agencies have been canceled at the academy and all satellite locations. All firearm training at

the academy range is canceled through March 27. 

Operational changes announced yesterday also follow as a reminder and resource to the public:

Allegheny County Jail

Restrictions on social and professional visits at the Allegheny County Jail are being

implemented beginning Monday, March 16. Exceptions will be made for instances of end-of-life

or when an inmate’s health becomes severely critical and visitation from immediate family

members, friends and religious leaders becomes necessary.

The initial visitation suspension duration is two weeks. At this time, legal visits to the Allegheny

County Jail will continue, but the process is currently being reviewed with stakeholders and

more announcements may be forthcoming.

 

Elections

The Elections Division is suspending all poll-worker training through Friday, March 27.

In addition, all public voting system demonstrations at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and

suburban libraries are suspended through Friday, March. 27. Voting system demonstrations

will continue Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., in Room 604 of the County Office Building at

542 Forbes Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh.

Voters can still learn about the county's new voting system, get step-by-step instructions, and

watch instructional videos at www.alleghenyvotes.com. The Elections Division also reminds

voters that voting by mail is now an option in Pennsylvania. To learn more and apply for a mailin or absentee ballot, visit www.votespa.com.

 

Kane Community Living Centers

Based on recommendations from Pennsylvania Department of Health, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Kane

Community Loving Centers are implementing a no visitor policy.

Exceptions will be made in instances of end-of-life, or when a resident’s health becomes

severely critical and visitation from immediate family members, friends and religious leaders

becomes necessary. In those cases, visitors will be subjected to a brief health assessment and

will only have access to their specific resident and the visit may take place in a private area

other than the resident’s room.

All resident trips outside of the center are also being canceled except those necessary for the

resident’s health, such as trips to a physician’s office that cannot be postponed.

 

Parks

All nine county parks will remain open to the public. Parks officials join ACHD in encouraging

the most vulnerable groups, which include the elderly, those with underlying medical

conditions, and those that are currently sick, to avoid large events and mass gatherings, as

well as other settings where there is close contact with a large group of people.

Park users who wish to cancel facility reservations or nature and recreational program

registrations will receive full refunds. Reservations and registrations may be canceled by

emailing name and permit number to webmaster.parks@alleghenycounty.us or by calling 412-

350-2455 Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-4:00 pm. This policy will remain in effect until further notice.

North Park and South Park golf courses will be closed March 16-26 for annual aeration and

maintenance. Any extension of golf course closures will be announced.

 

Shuman Juvenile Detention Center

Visitation policies for the children currently housed at Shuman will remain in place at this time,

but visitors may be subjected to brief health assessments to maintain the safety of the children 

and staff at the facility. These policies will be consistently reviewed and evaluated with

potential changes if there is a need to mitigate the spread of illness.

 

The following list contains additional resources and information shared with the county relative to third party organizations and their response to COVID-19. It is being provided as a courtesy and service to

residents. Any questions regarding these announcements should be directed to that agency.

Allegheny County Housing Authority is working with its residents who may have their working

hours reduced due to the COVID-19 crisis. They will perform timely interim adjustments upon

receipt of information.

Comcast is offering new, low-income Internet Essentials customers two months of free internet

and raising the speed of that program’s service. Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be

available for free to all users and data plans will be paused for 60 days, giving customers

unlimited data for no additional charge. Additionally, the company will not disconnect a

customer’s internet service during this period or assess late fees if they contact the company

regarding their inability to pay.

 

Community College of Allegheny County is adjusting its spring break. Beginning Monday,

March 16, and continuing through Saturday, March 21, CCAC will be on spring break with all

campuses and centers closed and no classes or clinicals in session.

President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark of the Court of Common Pleas announced that jurors

summoned for service in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas for any day during the

week of March 16 to March 20, 2020 will not be required to report for duty. No jury trials will be

picked that week. Any juror who has already been picked to serve on a specific case should

still report.

 

Duquesne Light is discontinuing all shutoff activities through at least May 1, 2020. The utility

has also implemented access restrictions to its critical operational facilities to support the

continued provision of safe, reliable power to communities.

 

FirstEnergy will temporarily suspend shutoffs and offer payment options to help ease

hardships.

 

Pennsylvania American Water has placed a moratorium and discontinued service shutoffs in

an effort to keep customers safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the utility is

beginning the restoration of service to previously shut-off customers.

 

Pittsburgh Public Schools announced that Grab and Go meals will be available for students

that depend on the school breakfast and lunch program during the district’s closure. All 54

school location will offer meals for pick-up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Students should go to the location closest to their home.

 

Port Authority of Allegheny County has moved to begin disinfection of vehicles every 24 hours.

There are no operational changes at this time.

 

 

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath, please stay at

home and contact your primary-care provider to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19. If

you do not have a primary care provider and are not sure if you need tested, please contact the Health

Department at 412-687-ACHD (412-687-2243).

 

f you need to seek immediate medical care, please 

call 9-1-1 for assistance, or phone ahead before going to a doctor’s office or emergency department to

allow staff at these locations to prepare for your arrival.

 

Allegheny County will continue to communicate with the public as more information is gathered. For the

latest information on COVID-19, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/coronavirus. If you are not yet a

subscriber to Allegheny Alerts, we encourage you to create an account at

www.alleghenycounty.us/alerts and to subscribe for COVID-19 alerts under the categories of Health

Department/Health & Environment. ACHD provides a daily update at 11 a.m. via Allegheny Alerts and

additional notifications as information becomes available.

# # #

Office of County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

101 Courthouse │ 436 Grant Street │ Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Phone: 412-350-6500 │ Fax: 412-350-6512

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