Centre County coronavirus cases increase to 7 total, according to the department of health
Centre County gained four new cases Tuesday of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the county to seven, according to the state Department of Health.
The county saw its first case of the novel coronavirus Friday.
Nearby Clearfield and Juniata counties also now have their first cases of the coronavirus, with one case apiece. Cambria County also still has one, which is unchanged from Monday.
“Based on the experience in other areas, we expect the number of patients who are screened, tested and diagnosed to increase over the coming weeks,” said Dr. Nirmal Joshi, chief medical officer at Mount Nittany Health, on Monday. “We continue to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control for treating any COVID-19 person under investigation or a suspected COVID-19 positive case and preventing the transmission of infection within our facilities.”
According to Anissa Ilie, a spokesperson for Mount Nittany Medical Center, no patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 are or have been hospitalized there.
There are currently 851 cases in Pennsylvania, with a majority occurring around the Philadelphia area. That’s an increase of 207 from Monday’s cases. Four more people have died from the virus, which has now led to seven total deaths in the state.
On Tuesday, to better combat the coronavirus, 43 health centers in Pennsylvania received a combined $2.8 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funds came about as a result of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provides $8.3 billion in emergency funding across the nation.
Anyone who believes they came into contact with someone who might have the coronavirus is advised to monitor their health and call their primary care provider if they develop symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. Symptoms can appear in as few as two or as long as 14 days after exposure.
“It’s essential for everyone to use everyday precautions to stay safe,” said Paul Guillard, a doctor with Mount Nittany Physician Group Internal Medicine, said Monday. “As a primary care physician, I routinely give my patients several steps to take to help keep themselves, their loved ones and our community healthy and well.”
Guillard, in line with the state DOH and CDC, recommends washing your hands often with soap and water, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, face and mouth with unwashed hands, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home if you are sick, except to get medical care and covering your coughs and sneezes.
Mount Nittany will now screen every person who comes through its facilities and stop every vehicle for screening unless it is an emergency vehicle or person headed to the emergency department.
Sarah Paez contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 12:11 PM.
