Teghan Simonton stories, Page 3

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday announced all providers in the state would pause use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine until at least April 20, following advice from federal regulators. “While this announcement is challenging, it highlights the vaccine evaluation process,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam...

Hospital systems in Western Pennsylvania are pausing distribution of the Johnson & Johnson covid vaccine, following recommendations from federal regulators. Both UPMC and Allegheny Health Network last week announced plans for mass vaccine clinics to administer a combined 25,000 shots. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and...

The return to classrooms within Pittsburgh Public Schools this week was a success, district officials said — but a looming shortage of bus drivers could threaten the district’s ability to bring in more students. A severe shortage of bus drivers means the district won’t have enough open seats for everyone,...

UPMC experts on Friday shared new data related to the effectiveness of the covid-19 vaccines on patients with compromised immune systems – suggesting that, for some people, the vaccines are less effective at preventing infection. Researchers searched for antibodies via blood tests of 70 volunteer residents of UPMC Senior Communities,...

No one knows who taught Griffin Croney CPR — including Griffin, himself — but everyone is relieved the 13-year-old from Allegheny Township somehow knew how to perform chest compressions. The teenager on Wednesday rescued his younger brother from drowning. “He’ll be a hero in my book forever,” said Rich Cantolina,...

About 25,000 people will receive a covid-19 vaccine at multiple drive-thru clinics throughout Western Pennsylvania in the coming week. Allegheny Health Network and UPMC, the region’s two largest health systems, announced partnerships Wednesday with the Allegheny County Health Department to provide Johnson & Johnson shots to the public. AHN and...

The University of Pittsburgh is “sounding the alarm” and adjusting its testing strategy amid a surge in covid-19 cases. The university reported 48 new infections on the Pittsburgh campus Tuesday, including 46 students and two employees. Twenty-eight of the student cases were recorded Friday alone — the highest single-day case...

As covid cases and hospitalizations rise in Pennsylvania, the Department of Health on Tuesday described a renewed push for expanding testing. Despite the increase in infections, officials said the demand for testing has decreased. Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said continued testing is imperative as the virus continues to spread....

The Pennsylvania Department of Education and Department of Health on Monday announced new recommendations for schools — suggesting most should reopen for some degree of face-to-face instruction. The new recommendations bring the state into alignment with recent guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which in mid-March...

The nonprofit Tree Pittsburgh will plant 125 trees and shrubs along the Eliza Furnace Trail on Tuesday, as part of the organization’s goal of replacing lost tree canopy. Tree Pittsburgh staff will partner with the Arbor Day Foundation and the Target Corporation for the event. Planting will start at 10...

Leechburg Area School District’s “Creation Café” was in operation less than a year before the covid-19 pandemic altered everything. Opened in 2019, the space was designed provide a unique learning opportunity for students enrolled in life skills/learning support classes in the district, serving a variety of hot foods and drinks...

The Allegheny County Health Department has resumed sending second dose invitations for its new registration system, following the system’s bumpy unveiling on Thursday. The county officially launched a new online registration system for individuals to sign up for the covid-19 vaccine. The system was meant to make signing up easier...

The ornate building that formerly housed First Commonwealth Bank in Leechburg soon will become a co-working space and business center for area entrepreneurs and individuals who work from home. There are hopes the building, which includes several private offices as well as conference rooms and open tables for collaborative work,...

The Allegheny County Health Department’s new vaccine registration system, designed to make registering for an appointment easier, is officially open to the public. The department announced the new system was on the way last week and began a “soft launch” earlier this week. Individuals seeking a vaccine appointment through the...

A significant increase in people ignoring mitigation strategies coupled with more covid-19 variant cases has left Allegheny County with a “foundation for a surge,” said Dr. Debra Bogen, Health Department director. “We are back to where we were in mid-January,” she said. During a virtual news briefing Wednesday, Bogen said...

Leechburg Area School District teachers are still finding new ways to alter their curricula a full year into the covid-19 pandemic, adjusting lessons so students miss out on as little as possible. When Leechburg Area High School art teacher Shayle Prorok wrote a new course curriculum for art marketing, the...

The University of Pittsburgh will increase public health restrictions to its Oakland campus today at 9 p.m., following several days of high covid-19 case numbers. In posts on social media, the university instituted a shelter-in-place period beginning at 9 p.m., which will remain in place “until the (Covid-19 Medical Response...

All Pennsylvania residents will be eligible to schedule covid vaccination appointments beginning April 19, two weeks ahead of President Biden’s directive of May 1, state health officials said Wednesday. The state Department of Health also launched a new initiative to expand vaccine eligibility to front line workers, including those in...

Pennsylvania schools can reduce physical distancing requirements between students, officials announced Tuesday, bringing the state in line with the most up-to-date guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While students, teachers and staff were previously required to maintain six feet of distance, the new guidelines allow students to...

The University of Pittsburgh saw another surge in cases over the weekend, according to the most recent report from the school’s Covid-19 Medical Response Office. Pitt on Tuesday recorded 29 new cases among students and one new employee case on its Pittsburgh campus. There are 67 students in isolation, while...

Pennsylvania is “catching up” on vaccine distribution, Gov. Wolf said Tuesday. About 31% of the commonwealth’s population has gotten their first dose, compared to the national average of 29%, he said. Pennsylvania matches the national average when it comes to the amount of people who have gotten second doses, at...

Her kindergarteners used to sit at tables, in groups. But now there are tiny disks spread across Amy Belitz’s classroom at Lincoln PreK-5, each about three feet apart from each other. Last year, Belitz said, her classroom seated 24 kids. Now there are only nine desks, and there will be...

Leechburg Area School Board has renewed the contract of Superintendent Tiffany Nix for another five years. “Really, in a small school, the superintendent does more jobs than what they do in a large school,” board president Neill Brady said. “She wears a lot more hats than the other superintendents do...

The University of Pittsburgh on Friday recorded 42 new cases of covid-19 at its Oakland campus since Tuesday. There are now 71 students in isolation, according to the university’s online data dashboard. Eight cases have been identified among faculty and staff. The students’ overall five-day moving average is now 8.6...