Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on April 14

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

University Park Airport to receive $2.3 million in relief funds from CARES Act

University Park Airport is one of 63 Pennsylvania airports to receive a portion of $239 million in federal funding to support operations and replace lost revenue.

United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced Tuesday that the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration will provide aid to help respond to COVID-19. The money was a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which includes $10 billion in funding for all eligible airports in the United States.

University Park Airport will receive $2,337,489 in funding.

- by Marley Parish

Under financial strain from COVID-19, Centre County to furlough employees, leave positions unfilled

Preparing for the significant financial impact of COVID-19, a divided board of commissioners approved cost-cutting measures Tuesday that affect the jobs of 100 Centre County employees across 31 departments.

County government employees have been working remotely for one month due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Commissioner Michael Pipe said the reduction of staff in county buildings has resulted in some being unable to work from home, due to having reduced or no work to complete.

The board decided in a 2-1 vote to furlough 63 employees, reduce 20 staff members’ hours and keep 17 positions vacant unless a critical need would arise. The changes — which will save $85,000 per week — will begin Friday, and those affected will be paid for the week of April 13.

- by Marley Parish

No new coronavirus cases reported in Centre County for second straight day

Centre County added no new cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, keeping the total number of cases in the county at 70, the state Department of Health reported.

The county has added only one case from Saturday to Tuesday.

There are 25,345 cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania as of noon Tuesday, an increase of 1,146 since noon Monday. The total rose by 1,366 from Sunday to Monday. Of those infected, 2,306 are currently hospitalized with 666 currently on ventilators. The county had two COVID-19 patients on ventilators as of noon Monday, according to a state Department of Health database.

- by Jon Sauber

Historic Big 33 Football Classic officially canceled for first time since game started in 1958

For more than 60 years — through 12 U.S. presidents, eight recessions and a moon landing — the Big 33 Football Classic has been an annual staple of Pennsylvania sports.

But not this year.

The organization that oversees the game announced Tuesday morning that, for the first time in its history, it will have to cancel the 2020 edition of the prestigious game due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The game — which was set to feature three local student-athletes and a coach — will not be rescheduled from its May 25 kickoff.

- by Josh Moyer

Sue Paterno donates $100,000 to help Penn State students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Penn State grad and longtime benefactor Sue Paterno recently donated $100,000 to the university to help students in need during the global pandemic, the university announced Monday.

Half of her donation will go toward the Student Care & Advocacy Emergency Fund, which typically supplies hard-hit students with up to $1,000 each. And the other half will be added to the endowment of the Lion’s Pantry, a food bank for university students that remains open five days a week.

“All of our lives have been changed and challenged by the far-reaching effects of COVID-19,” Paterno said in a written statement. “No one can foresee how our students will be impacted, but we must do what we can to help them as they pursue their educational goals.”

- by Josh Moyer

Mail-in, absentee ballot applications surge for June primary

Pennsylvania counties have processed about 283,000 absentee and mail-in ballots for the June primary, and requests from Democrats are three times more common than from Republicans, state elections officials said Tuesday.

The Department of State said 89,000 absentee ballot requests have already been processed, with the June 2 primary still seven weeks away.

During the 2016 primary, 84,000 votes were cast under the absentee ballot system, which is available only to those who offer an acceptable reason they would not be able to vote in person.

- Associated Press

Free meal options

• The State College Area School District is offering free meal kits each Wednesday at the high school parking lot for children ages 18 and younger. The weekly meal kits will have enough food for breakfast and lunch for five. days. Families who are interested in the service are asked to place an order by 8 a.m. each Monday by filling out an online form. A limited number of meals will be available on a first-come-first-served basis for those who did not order ahead of time.

• The YMCA of Centre County is continuing to provide free bags of food for children 18 years and younger through its Anti-Hunger program. Drive-thru locations throughout the county and pickup times can be found on the YMCA’s website, as well as how to donate to the program.

• The YMCA of Centre County holds a soup drive-thru for veterans and seniors. The location of the next drive-thru will be posted at www.ymcaofcentrecounty.org/ymca/anti-hunger-program-updates.

• The Moshannon Valley YMCA’s Travelin’ Table mobile kitchen will be at Tudek Park in Ferguson Township from noon-1 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Things to do

• In lieu of the annual Blue-White Game, Penn State Athletics announced it will be hosting a virtual tailgate from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday. Fans are encouraged to host their own virtual tailgates, wear white and interact with exclusive content across Penn State Football digital channels. Fans can register their virtual tailgates here for the chance to have a member of the Penn State Football coaching staff, former student-athletes or the Nittany Lion mascot join in on their video conference.
• Penn State Extension will host a webinar focusing on virtual local government operations. “Pennsylvania Legislation Update: How Local Governments Can Now Conduct Business” will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Business changes

• Because of strong demand, Burkholder’s Market in Spring Mills will begin requiring all online orders be submitted by 6 p.m. for next day pickup, effective Thursday.
• Walmart is reserving a pickup time for those at high risk for the coronavirus. Each day, time will be set aside from 7-8 a.m. for customers older than 60, as well as first responders, those with disabilities, or anyone deemed high risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Penn State

• To help address the nationwide shortage in personal protective equipment for medial workers, a Penn State engineering and architecture team designed a “glove box nursing booth” prototype for potential use by health care workers at drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites. The prototype is part of Penn State’s university-wide Manufacturing And Sterilization for COVID-19 (MASC) Initiative.

Health Care

• Mount Nittany Health announced Monday that lab and imaging services at its offsite locations will be temporarily closed or operating under reduced hours starting this week. Patients will be directed to Mount Nittany Medical Center for their care. Details can be found here.

Closings and cancellations

• The Big 33 Football Classic and East West Game, which were scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, have been canceled due to COVID-19. Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Executive Director Garry Cathell announced the decision Tuesday in a statement. Also canceled are what was to be the first PSFCA High School Combine, USA Football 1st Down Clinic, Military Murph Competition and the Big 33 Fan Experience. The PSFCA is looking at ways to honor those associated with the games. “We want each of them to know that they should be extremely proud to have been chosen and that they are now part of our amazing Big 33 and special East West families,” Cathell said. “In addition, our best wishes go out to all graduating student-athletes across this great commonwealth and our country, who are now unable to finish their high school careers as planned.”

Community outreach

Pennsylvania news

• Gov. Tom Wolf gave an update Monday evening on Pennsylvania’s progress in the fight against COVID-19.

• A Republican proposal challenging Gov. Tom Wolf’s nonessential business shutdown order passed the General Assembly Tuesday along strict party lines, 107-95. The proposal would force the governor to adopt the federal guidelines on what is and what isn’t considered an essential business. Majority Republican members argued the Wolf administration’s approach has been inconsistent, unfair and difficult to understand, the AP reported.

• Gov. Tom Wolf announced that businesses that collect Pennsylvania sales tax will not have to make Accelerated Sales Tax prepayments over the next three months. Visit the Department of Revenue’s page on Accelerated Sales Tax Prepayments for more information on prepayments.

This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 10:05 AM.