Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on April 8
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about coronavirus in Centre County. Check back for updates.
Mount Nittany Health, Geisinger now requiring patients, visitors to wear masks inside facilities
Following the lead of Geisinger, Mount Nittany Health announced Wednesday that all patients and visitors to the medical center will now be required to wear masks inside the facility.
Patients and visitors to Mount Nittany Medical Center are asked to bring their own masks but, if needed, masks will be provided before entering the facility.
- by Josh Moyer
With spring events canceled, Centre Region Parks and Recreation prepares for uncertain summer
With playgrounds and pavilions closed until further notice, Centre Region Parks and Recreation is preparing for financial repercussions of the coronavirus.
During a special meeting of the Centre Region Council of Government Executive Committee on Tuesday, officials discussed the impact of the coronavirus and potential loss of revenue resulting from the statewide stay-at-home order and shutdown of non-life sustaining businesses, specifically the impact on the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority which had been gearing up to host spring and summer events.
- by Marley Parish
How has the coronavirus pandemic affected crime rates in Pennsylvania?
Criminal offenses, property crimes, crashes and arrests have plunged in the Keystone State as millions of Pennsylvanians have been ordered to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Criminal offenses reported by state police between March 28 and April 3 were down 89% when compared to offenses reported between Feb. 22-28 — a “pre-COVID-19 baseline,” Communications Director Ryan Tarkowski wrote in an email.
- by Bret Pallotto
Pennsylvania tops 16,000 total cases of COVID-19, as Centre County adds 2 more confirmed cases
Centre County gained two new cases Wednesday of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, increasing the total number of cases in the county to 57, according to the state Department of Health.
There are now 16,239 total cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania as of noon Wednesday, meaning 1,680 cases are new. With the exponential growth of the pandemic, that is now the state’s largest single-day increase as of yet. (There were 1,579 new cases Tuesday and 1,470 Monday.)
- by Josh Moyer
Bellefonte’s plans for the rest of the school year include online instruction, virtual graduation
As schools remain closed due to COVID-19, Bellefonte Area School District has developed a preliminary plan for an unprecedented school year that is anticipated to end with a virtual graduation ceremony.
Focused on “enrichment and review,” the district’s program aims to accommodate the needs of district employees, students and families and will graduate seniors on time.
The board of directors convened for a Zoom meeting Tuesday to discuss the district’s continuity of education plan that was submitted to the state Department of Education last week.
- by Marley Parish
Despite school closures, Bellefonte Area School District makes headway on elementary building project
Despite the statewide shutdown and coronavirus pandemic, the Bellefonte Area School District is moving forward with its proposed elementary school building project.
First introduced in 2017, the project could result in the renovation or consolidation its elementary schools. A feasibility study of all four elementary schools — which cost $25,000 — identified Bellefonte Elementary as needing the most and costliest of renovations. After being postponed due to uncertainty among board members, the district entered into contract negotiations with Hunt Engineers and Architects in February.
- by Marley Parish
Traditional Easter egg hunts are off this year, but alternatives are planned in Centre County
Gov. Tom Wolf’s statewide stay-at-home order doesn’t make exceptions for herds of kids hunting plastic eggs, but Centre County residents are still making plans to celebrate Easter in alternative ways.
The Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority canceled its 59th Easter Egg Hunt due to the coronavirus pandemic. With thousands of eggs filled with candy and tickets for prize baskets, CRPR Director Pamela Salokangas said the authority will donate its supplies to the YMCA school lunch program, which currently has 24 locations in Centre and Clinton counties.
- by Marley Parish
Despite virtual classes, Centre County is counting on Penn State students for the census
With federal funding on the line for the 2020 census, Penn State students are encouraged to mark Centre County as their place of residence, no matter where they fill out the form while in-person classes are suspended.
The census, which began April 1, determines how much municipalities and states receive in federal funding and grants, as well as how congressional districts are drawn. The census also measures population demographics like age, sex, race, migration, housing conditions, veteran status, language and poverty.
Pennsylvania communities get about $2,000 per counted person each year.
- by Marley Parish
Health care
- Geisinger Health Plan is waiving all out-of-pocket costs for members receiving in-network, inpatient treatment for COVID-19, the insurance provider announced Tuesday. It also made changes to several services, including no-cost Teladoc telehealth services through June 15 and early refills for prescriptions.
- Highmark Inc. announced Wednesday it will assist Primary Care Physicians by advancing payments made through the True Performance reimbursement program. The reimbursement payments were originally scheduled to have been made in June, but will now be going out this week to assist those whose practices have been financially affected by stay-at-home orders and other COVID-19-related issues.
Mount Nittany Health is accepting donations of food, supplies and Personal Protective Equipment to help fight COVID-19. Items being accepted are: powered air-purifying respirators and filters; N95 masks in unopened containers; Surgical masks/procedural masks in unopened packaging; Tyvek suits; Clorox®/Lysol® cleaning wipes; hydrogen peroxide or bleach cleaning wipes and 7 mil clear acetate sheets (9”x12”). All gifts of food will be reviewed by executive chef Craig Hamilton. Those interested in giving can fill out an electronic form at foundation.mountnittany.org. Community members are asked not to drop off donations at any Mount Nittany Health facility on their own.
Mount Nittany Health announced Wednesday that it is extending its employee masking requirement to all patients and staff at the medical center to help protect against COVID-19. Patients and visitors are encouraged to wear their own masks from home, but masks will be provided by the pre-entry screening teams if needed.
Community outreach
Pennsylvania news
- Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday evening ordered all commonwealth flag on all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds fly at half-staff until further notice to honor the victims of COVID-19. “I hope this flag lowering provides some solace to the grieving families and friends,” Wolf said in a release. “And, I hope it serves as a reminder of the reason for the sacrifices Pennsylvanians are making to help their community survive this crisis.” All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in the tribute.
Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday signed an order to provide critical aid to hospitals with targeted PPE and supplies distribution. The order will ensure the efficient allocation and effective use of critical medical resources, such as N95 face masks, ventilators, respirators, face shields, safety goggles, disinfectants and other sanitizing solutions by hospitals in the state, according to a release.
The state Department of Health launched a new hospital preparedness dashboard that provides county-level information on the number of available beds in ventilators in use. A desktop version of the dashboard can be found here or the mobile version of the dashboard here.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 11:16 AM.