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Allegheny County’s new cases of covid-19 fell sharply in the past two weeks, but the region still has “lots of community spread,” and officials have concerns about schools and sports programs safely resuming in coming weeks.

In the first two weeks of July, more than 5,000 residents tested positive for covid-19.

Among three emerging challenges cited by Bogen and Fitzgerald: the return of college students living in dormitories and throwing house parties; the reopening of K-12 schools around the region; and increased participation across all ages in contact sports.

“We really want to make sure that everyone is wearing their mask, keeping as distant as they can and acting responsibly so we can continue to make the success that we have seen over the last few weeks.”.

“When you’re in class, you need to be wearing that mask,” Fitzgerald said.

Neither Bogen nor Fitzgerald made a blanket statement that schools should not open or that school-related or recreational contact sports should stop.

“I worry a lot about contact sports when our case counts are high and young children have asymptomatic spread,” Bogen said when asked about whether some sports should be canceled.

Not all sports pose the same level of risk, Bogen said.

The broader public also should remain cautious and continue to practice social distancing, Fitzgerald said.

After peaking at about 250 per week, the number of new covid-19 cases has been less than 100 for four of the last five days.

County workers who were moved from their regular roles to help with contact tracing and case investigations have been sent back to their primary positions as of this week because there is less need for them, Bogen said.

Staff not wearing or not properly wearing face coverings continues to be the most common issue that businesses need to address, Bogen said.

The county is aiming to drop below a case threshold of 50 per 100,000 people, and instead reported a level three times that rate the last week of July, Bogen said.

Earlier in the day, the county’s health department reported 70 new covid-19 cases, nine hospitalizations and five deaths.

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