Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on March 31

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

Talks continue between Penn State, Teamsters on work concerns during coronavirus pandemic

A Penn State union that represents more than 2,000 employees is asking the university for improved safety measures during the coronavirus, along with comp time and other requests, but talks continue as many issues remain unresolved.

Teamsters Local 8 — which consists of workers in hospitality, maintenance, landscaping and various other support roles at University Park and the commonwealth campuses — sent a letter to Penn State on March 20 with numerous concerns, ranging from the availability of personal protective equipment to comp time and “busy work.” By March 24, according to the group’s publicly available Facebook page, at least 16 different questions and requests were posed to the university.

And, so far, little has been revealed publicly.

- by Josh Moyer

What funds are available to keep Centre County small businesses afloat during COVID-19 closures?

State and federal funds aim to provide small business owners with financial assistance amid the coronavirus pandemic, but Centre County business owners should act quickly, commissioner Mark Higgins said Tuesday.

If fired or laid off, employees can receive unemployment benefits, but entrepreneurs are not normally eligible to receive the same benefits. During Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting, Higgins spoke about opportunities available at the state and federal levels to help small businesses as COVID-19 and statewide closures cause financial challenges for workers.

If business owners wait to ask for help, Higgins said the chance of them receiving assistance is unlikely.

- by Marley Parish

Centre County adds 2 new coronavirus cases as Pa. cases approach 5,000

Centre County’s total COVID-19 cases increased by two Tuesday to 26, according to the state Department of Health.

The total number of cases in Pennsylvania increased from 4,087 to 4,843.

The death toll in the state from the virus rose by 15 to 63. There have been no COVID-19 deaths reported in Centre County.

No patients who have tested positive for the infectious disease have been, or are currently, hospitalized at Mount Nittany Medical Center, spokeswoman Anissa Ilie said Tuesday.

- by Jon Sauber

Changes to Penn State’s mental health services have left some feeling ‘abandoned’

While Penn State’s counseling and psychological services department is looking to implement telehealth services, some students who have been without therapy sessions for weeks say they feel “abandoned” by the university.

CAPS is open, but students must first schedule an appointment by phone to discuss their concerns and review treatment options.

The department gradually closed in-person services the week after spring break as guidance for mitigating the spread of the new coronavirus came into focus, CAPS Senior Director Ben Locke said.

- by Bret Pallotto

Health Care

• Mount Nittany Health set up a dedicated COVID-19 hotline available to the community daily from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. daily at 231-7111. For the most up-to-date information, visit mountnittany.org/coronavirus.
• Penn State Health made changes to several financial services to help patients navigate the challenges presented by COVID-19. Among the changes are an enhanced financial counseling services and additional financial counselors and customer service representatives to assist patients and consumers with a variety of new and existing programs.

Community outreach

• Residents at Foxdale Village Retirement Community wrote a special message of thanks to staff members.

• 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 Philipsburg-Osceola teachers’ drive-thru soup program for senior citizens and veterans started on Monday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Philipsburg. While not in the classroom, the teachers are volunteering as part of the YMCA’s Anti-Hunger Program. The next soup drive-thru will be from noon-1 p.m. April 6 at the Bald Eagle Valley Community United Methodist Church.

Centre County government

• Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court Christine Millinder on Tuesday made available virtual probate and marriage license applications through video conference. Appointments must be made for the conferences, and probates must be represented by legal counsel. For more information, contact Millinder’s office at 355-6724 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Things to do

• Centre Moves is kicking off its “Get Moving for a Cause” campaign on Friday. Through the campaign, Centre Moves will host a series of popup challenges. The first challenges is to move a mile a day, starting Friday and ending April 16. That movement can include running, jogging, walking, crawling, hiking or biking. The first- and second-place winners will get to direct a $50 or $25 donation to one of Centre Moves’ nonprofit partners. State Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine says outside activities like walking, jogging and biking are encouraged, as long as there is social distancing.

Sports

• Olympic wrestling trials, initially planned for April 4-5 at the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State’s campus, have not yet been rescheduled. However, organizers are working to set a new date for the event at the BJC in 2021. Those interested in a refund can contact the BJC ticket office at bjcticketcenter@psu.edu or call by phone at 865-5555 by June 1.
• The NCAA Division I Council on Monday voted to allow spring sports athletes who had their seasons cut short by the coronavirus pandemic to have an additional year of eligibility. The decision, however, does not apply to winter sports, such as basketball, wrestling and hockey. The council also adjusted financial aid rules to allow teams to carry more members on scholarship to account for student-athletes who decide to stay.

Pennsylvania news

• Gov. Tom Wolf extended his stay-at-home order to Cameron, Crawford, Forest, Franklin, Lawrence, Lebanon and Somerset counties on Tuesday. The order now applies to 33 of the state’s 67 counties. Centre County was included in the order on Saturday.

• President Donald Trump approved part of a disaster declaration for Pennsylvania on Monday evening, freeing up federal funding for the state, eligible local governments and certain nonprofits for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, in all areas affected by COVID-19. Gov. Tom Wolf applied for the major disaster declaration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday.
• Attorney General Josh Shapiro rolled out a consumer relief program Monday for those affected by COVID-19. Under the initiative, dubbed PA CARE Package, financial institutions and banks will: expand loan availability for small and medium businesses; offer a 90-day grace period for mortgages, auto and other consumer loans and charges such as late and overdraft fees; provide a 60-day moratorium on foreclosure, eviction and car repossession; and ensure no negative credit reporting for seeking relief on consumer loans. PNC Bank is the first to participate in the program, the AG’s office said. First Commonwealth Bank joined Tuesday.
• The state Department of Education announced Monday that it received a waiver from the federal government to let schools provide free meals to all children in the state. Without the waiver, schools that did not meet free or reduced price requirements could not offer free meals to all children. Now, schools and community organizations can apply to the state for approval as an open-meal site.

This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 9:39 AM.