Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on March 30

We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about coronavirus in Centre County. Check back for updates.

Gov. Wolf extends stay-at-home order timeline; schools, businesses to remain closed

Pennsylvania schools and businesses will remain closed until further notice to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Tom Wolf said during a briefing Monday where he extended stay-at-home orders.

The 26 counties under a stay-at-home order, including Centre County, will be under the order through April 30. Wolf added Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and Schuylkill counties to the order.

“Our business and school closures will no longer have a set date to resume normal operations,” Wolf said.

Centre County schools have taken steps to address extended school closures by implementing online and hardcopy learning plans while Penn State resumed the spring semester through its virtual learning program.

All nonessential businesses will remain closed indefinitely; however, restaurants are still able to offer takeout and delivery services.

- by Marley Parish

State prisons under quarantine as cases increase

The state Department of Corrections implemented a statewide inmate quarantine Sunday night because of the new coronavirus, the department announced Monday.

The DOC detains nearly 44,600 inmates in 25 state prisons, including Benner and Rockview state prisons.

An inmate at Phoenix state prison in Montgomery County tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. Three corrections employees self-reported positive tests, but the department did not say where the employees work.

All visitation was suspended effective March 13. Visits are suspended through at least April 10.

- by Bret Pallotto

Centre County adds 2 more cases; Pa. cases top 4,000

Centre County gained two new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 24, according to the state Department of Health.

With 4,087 total cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania as of noon Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order now includes 22 counties. The state has seen a 693 increase in the number of confirmed cases since Sunday.

Eleven more people have died of the coronavirus, bringing the state total to 49.

No Centre County residents have died from the pandemic.

- by Marley Parish

Closings/cancellations

• Centre Region Parks and Recreation announced Saturday that, due to Centre County’s stay-at-home order, Centre Region municipalities will close park playgrounds starting Monday. Residents can still visit parks for fresh air and exercise but should practice social distancing. Park restrooms and water fountains are closed.
• State College Area School District Superintendent Bob O’Donnell asked residents Monday not to use any of the district’s school grounds, athletic facilities or playgrounds while the stay-at-home order is in effect. Additionally, elementary parent-teacher conferences will not be held April 3 and 6. Those days (along with May 22) will be used to make up time that was missed during the week of March 16, O’Donnell said. The last day of school is still June 8.

Community outreach

• The Corner Room is providing free groceries for community members in need on Wednesday. About 50 bags will be set outside the 100 W. College Ave. establishment at 11:30 a.m. and will contain one gallon of milk, a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread, a pound of bacon, potatoes and lettuce. People are asked to adhere to social distancing guideline when they pick up the food and to limit one bag per family.
• The YMCA of Centre County’s Anti-Hunger Program and teachers at Philipsburg-Osceola School District donated 179 orders of soup to senior citizens ad veterans.

Food truck locations

• Scott’s Roasting will be at Tractor Supply on Benner Pike on Fridays and Saturdays through May. The truck plans to open at 10:30 a.m. each day. A closing time has not yet been determined. Scott’s will be serving pulled pork sandwiches with choice of cabbage slaw, barbecue and horseradish sauce. Barbecue pork nachos, homemade macaroni salad and chips will also be available.

• Rosie’s Pierogies will be at Queen of Archangel’s Church in Clarence from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, selling haluski and pierogies by the dozen. Orders will be packaged and ready to go for pickup. A portion of sales will be donated to Queen of Archangels.

Penn State

• After Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order was announced for Centre County on Saturday, Penn State Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims wrote a letter to students and parents, asking students not to return to the county or State College area. For those already in Centre County, Sims asked that recognized student organizations, including fraternities, to not host any social gatherings. Failure to honor the restriction will result in the loss of university recognition and disciplinary consequences.

Sports

• While the PIAA met virtually for its regularly scheduled board meeting Monday, no action was taken regarding the start of spring sports or possible restart of winter championships. Gov. Wolf on Monday said school closures no longer have a set date to resume operations. They will be closed as long as needed to keep Pennsylvanians safe.

Pennsylvania news

• Gov. Tom Wolf issued a statement Monday promising fair treatment of all Pennsylvanians during the pandemic. “I will not tolerate discrimination in allocation of lifesaving resources based on any factor including, but not limited to age, disability and socioeconomic status to Pennsylvanians seeking medical care in our commonwealth,” Wolf said.

• The state set a record for unemployment filings last week, with 405,000 in the seven days through Saturday. That topped the previous week’s record of 379,000, which was the highest in the country.

• The ACLU of Pennsylvania petitioned the state Supreme Court on Monday to order the release of some inmates from county jails to reduce the spread of coronavirus. The ACLU argued that the tight quarters, poor sanitation and a limited ability to treat and quarantine those suspected of having coronavirus creates an “extraordinary public health risk” to inmates, staff and communities. In Pennsylvania, Allegheny, Lackawanna and Lancaster counties have made efforts to reduce their prison populations.

• The state Department of Corrections reported its first inmate with a positive test for COVID-19 on Sunday. The inmate was at SCI Phoenix in Montgomery County. DOC Secretary John Wetzel said in a statement that the inmate is in the prison’s infirmary and is isolated from others. Inmates in the affected housing unit are under quarantine and staff and inmates have been provided with personal protective equipment.

• Wolf requested a major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump through the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday to bring more funding and programs to the state amid the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to what Pennsylvania receives through the nationwide emergency proclamation, this would provide the following individual assistance programs: Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Community Disaster Loans and the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program; and Statewide Hazard Mitigation.

This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 11:38 AM.