An isolated thunderstorm Saturday afternoon could turn severe with heavy downpours and strong gusty winds being the biggest threats.

Source: Heavy rain, thunderstorms Saturday

AOC: It’s ‘Shameful’ What Republicans Fought For In Coronavirus Relief Bill | NBC News NOW

Researchers say we face a horrible choice: practice social distancing for months or a year, or let hundreds of thousands die.

Life in America — and in many countries around the world — is changing drastically. We’re physically distanced from our favorite people, we’re avoiding our favorite public places, and many are financially strained or out of work. The response to the Covid-19 pandemic is infiltrating every aspect of life, and we’re already longing for it to end. But this fight may not end for months or a year or even more.

We’re in this because public health experts believe social distancing is the best way to prevent a truly horrific crisis: perhaps hundreds of thousands or more if our health care system is overwhelmed with severe Covid-19 cases, people who require ventilators and ICU beds that are now growing limited in supply.

Source: Coronavirus: How long will social distancing last? Here’s what scientists say – Vox

Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to extend the stay-at-home order to Westmoreland County because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Source: Gov. Tom Wolf To Extend Stay-At-Home Order To Westmoreland Co. – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of Pittsburgh

HARRISBURG (KDKA) – PennDOT, along with the Department of Homeland Security, has postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID from October 1, 2020, to October 1, 2021.

While REAL ID is not required in Pennsylvania, it will be an acceptable form of federal ID to fly on a plane. It can be used in place of a passport, passport card, or military ID.

“We are very pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has listened to our concerns, as well as the concerns from our fellow states regarding the need for a postponement on REAL ID enforcement in the midst of this national emergency,” said PennDOT Acting Secretary Yassmin Gramian.

More information regarding document requirements can be found on PennDOT’s website.

Source: Federal REAL ID Enforcement Deadline Pushed Back To October 2021 – CBS Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Police VCU detectives made an arrest in an armed business robbery of Italian Village Pizza on the 5000 block of Second Avenue in Hazelwood at 5 p.m..

Justin Algiere, 27, of Pittsburgh was stopped in Squirrel Hill by an officer a short time after the robbery, positively identified and arrested.

He faces robbery charges and is currently being held at Allegheny County Jail.

Source: Public Safety Media Blotter

City public safety officials said officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert for shots fired shortly after 9 p.m. along the 2600 block of Linwood Avenue.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Giant Eagle says an employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

The company did not disclose where the employee worked.

Giant Eagle reported its first positive COVID-19 case among team members Friday, and says “it is likely that in the coming weeks the company will learn of additional confirmed cases related to Team Members and guests.”

In a press release, Giant Eagle says it will sanitize all affected areas in compliance with guidance from the CDC and county health departments.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

• Coronavirus In Pennsylvania: Gov. Tom Wolf Cancels All K-12 Schools
• Coronavirus In Pittsburgh Area: Coronavirus Case Confirmed In Washington Co., Western Pa.’s First
• Coronavirus In Pittsburgh: Two Cases Of Coronavirus Confirmed In City Of Pittsburgh
• Coronavirus In Pennsylvania: State’s First Coronavirus-Related Death Confirmed
• Coronavirus In Beaver County: Shell To Temporarily Shut Down Construction At Cracker Plant
• Coronavirus Closures And Changes: Attractions, Businesses, And Events Canceled Or Closed In Pittsburgh, Across Western Pa.
• Coronavirus In Pittsburgh: Area Restaurants Offering Takeout And Delivery Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
• More Coronavirus News

Giant Eagle has been taking new steps in the name of safety as the coronavirus spreads across the state. The company is installing plexiglass dividers at checkout and customer service areas at Giant Eagle, Market District, pharmacy, and GetGo locations.

The company is asking customers to refrain from bringing reusable bags in the store and installing floor indicators and signs at checkout lanes that indicate the appropriate social distancing.

More information on the Coronavirus pandemic:

• CDC Coronavirus Information
• CDC Global Map of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
• Pennsylvania Department of Health Information
• Allegheny County Health Department Information

Source: Giant Eagle Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19 – CBS Pittsburgh

Scientists and senior doctors have backed claims by France’s health minister that people showing symptoms of covid-19 should use paracetamol (acetaminophen) rather than ibuprofen, a drug they said might exacerbate the condition.

The minister, Oliver Veran, tweeted on Saturday 14 March that people with suspected covid-19 should avoid anti-inflammatory drugs. “Taking anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, cortisone . . .) could be an aggravating factor for the infection. If you have a fever, take paracetamol,” he said.

His comments seem to have stemmed in part from remarks attributed to an infectious diseases doctor in south west France. She was reported to have cited four cases of young patients with covid-19 and no underlying health problems who went on to develop serious symptoms after using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the early stage of their symptoms. The hospital posted a comment saying that public discussion of individual cases was inappropriate.

Source: Covid-19: ibuprofen should not be used for managing symptoms, say doctors and scientists | The BMJ

President Trump on Friday signed a bipartisan $2 trillion economic relief package aimed at helping American workers and businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The bill includes $1,200 one-time payments to many Americans; sets up a $500 billion corporate liquidity fund to help struggling industries like airlines; allocated $377 billion for aid to small businesses; and boosts the maximum unemployment benefit by $600 per week for four months, among other provisions.

Trump signed the legislation hours after it passed the House, thanking Republicans and Democrats “for coming together, setting aside their differences and putting America first” with the legislation.

Source: Trump signs $2T coronavirus relief package | TheHill

A stay-at-home order for residents of several Pennsylvania counties has been issued by Gov. Tom Wolf.

Source: Stay-at-home order in effect for several Pennsylvania counties, including Allegheny County

There are now 217 cases of coronavirus in 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties.

Source: Coronavirus in Western Pa.: 217 cases in 10 counties, according to PA Dept. of Health

Prince Charles is displaying mild symptoms “but otherwise remains in good health.”

Source: Coronavirus: Prince of Wales tests positive – BBC News

Canada has turned down a proposal by the United States to put troops at U.S.-Canada border during the coronavirus outbreak, arguing that such a move would be unnecessary given the low amount of illegal crossings and damage relations between

Source: Canada asks US not to put troops at border during coronavirus outbreak | Fox News

Photo visual storytelling from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Source: Looking Down: What our Pittsburgh streets look like under social distancing – Pittsburgh: In Focus

The City of Pittsburgh is rescheduling their Earth Day Celebration Week.  The events originally centered around the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day April 22, 2020 were focused on the theme “Earth Day, Every Day”.   The events will now be held in August.  Here is a list of events, dates and locations.

• Friday, August 14 and Saturday August 15: Go Green at Market Square
• Saturday, August 22: Growing up Green at Schenley Plaza
• Thursday, August 27: Sustainable Business Breakfast at the Fairmont Hotel
• Friday, August 28: Ecolution Fashion Show at Carnegie Museum
• Sunday, April 29: Earth to Table Dinner at Kingfly Distillery
• Throughout the Month: Eco Film Showcase / Various Locations

Duquesne Light is the title sponsor for the Pittsburgh Earth Day events.  The city has also launched an e-newsletter “The Green Voice” which is available now and shares environmental news and information.  In addition they will be launching some online features for the public to access from the comfort of home

Individuals and organizations hosting events this year can also submit their events at PittsburghEarthDay.org/event-submission.

Related:

• 7 Ways to Reduce Water Pollution in Your Everyday Life
• 6 Green Travel Tips to Lower Your Carbon Footprint

For more information on what the city is doing visit pittsburghearthday.org.

Source: Pittsburgh Earth Day 2020 Rescheduled Due To COVID-19 | Newsradio 1020 KDKA

The U.S. now has more coronavirus cases than any other country in the world, surpassing China’s total and highlighting how rapidly the virus can move through a population.

The U.S. logged more than 83,000 cases as of 8 p.m. ET Thursday, while China reported more than 81,00 infections, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

America now leading the world in coronavirus cases is striking since the U.S. population of some 330 million is just a fraction of China’s 1.4 billion people.

In China, where the epidemic started in December, almost 3,300 people have died, while in the U.S., the toll stands at around 1,200. In Italy, there have been about 8,200 deaths.

As coronavirus cases surge, business nationwide has nearly ground to a halt and the economy has soured, with major swaths of America shut down and officials urging residents to stay indoors and practice social distancing to curb the rate of infection.

Source: U.S. Surpasses China In Cases Of Coronavirus : Coronavirus Live Updates : NPR