Calling it a “heartbreaking milestone,” Allegheny County Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen says 1,028 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the county in the past 24 hours and 20 new deaths were reported. Of those who died, one person was in their 40s, one in their 50s, two were in their 70s, seven were in their 80s, eight were in their 90s and one person was over 100. Eight deaths were associated with long-term care facilities.

“It pains me to report these numbers. I had hoped we’d never see this level of community spread. This heartbreaking milestone must move our community into action. I implore to you cancel parties, weddings, gatherings, events and stay home whenever possible,” says Bogen. “My heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones throughout this pandemic. We can, and we must do better.”

In Harrisburg, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine says more than one-third of the hospitals in southwestern Pennsylvania could experience staffing shortages in the coming week that could force a cutback in elective surgeries.

“You might not need hospital care right now,” Levine says. “You might not have a loved one in the hospital right now. But what is happening in our hospitals has a direct impact on you – it has a direct impact on the mitigation steps you have to take in order to contain the spread of the virus.

“We are certainly not through this, and we cannot return to life as normal right now.”