Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on April 16

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

Special Olympics Pennsylvania cancels Summer Games but hopes to capture spirit virtually

The Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games won’t be taking place on Penn State’s campus this year but organizers hope the spirit of the games will continue virtually.

The Summer Games, which were scheduled June 11-13, were canceled Thursday due to concerns about the coronavirus. Organizers hope to instead launch a virtual games. The “Be a Fan” torch run, a three-day event before the games that spans Pittsburgh to State College, was canceled as well.

“While it is heartbreaking to announce this decision to cancel the torch run and Summer Games,” Special Olympics Pennsylvania President and CEO Matthew Aaron said in a news release, “our hope is to capture the spirit of our athletes and volunteers via the virtual Summer Games.”

- by Matt Hymowitz

Dozens of inmates released from Centre County jail in the past month to contain COVID-19 spread

In effort to contain the new coronavirus, 43 inmates were released in the past month from the Centre County Correctional Facility, a Centre County commissioner said Wednesday.

The jail is working with county officials to identify vulnerable inmates — those with an autoimmune disorder or a serious, chronic medical disorder — who, if released early, do not pose a public safety risk, Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Pipe said.

There are 195 inmates detained at the jail, which has the capacity to detain 397 inmates, as of Wednesday, according to Pipe.

- by Bret Pallotto

Penn State to receive $55 million from federal stimulus fund; half earmarked for students in need

Penn State is set to receive nearly $55 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and half of those funds — about $27.5 million — will go toward emergency financial aid grants for students, the university announced Wednesday.

It’s not yet known exactly when the university will receive that money, or how Penn State might disburse those funds. But U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced April 9 that about $6 billion from the nearly $14 billion total earmarked for colleges and their students will be “distributed immediately.”

The university said it is in the process of submitting a certification form to receive the aid. It’s also organizing a task group — with members from Student Affairs, the Office of Financial Aid, Commonwealth Campuses, and more — to help with the disbursement.

- by Josh Moyer

Wolf resists calls to reopen economy, ease stay-home order

Gov. Tom Wolf said Thursday that he has not set any timetable for allowing nonessential businesses to reopen or people to leave their homes, insisting that Pennsylvania has not made enough progress to “declare victory” over the coronavirus and ease up on social distancing.

GOP lawmakers have been pressing Wolf to ease his economic shutdown, more business owners are fearing bankruptcy and at least 1.4 million Pennsylvania residents have been thrown out of work during a pandemic that has killed more than 700 statewide.

But Wolf, while acknowledging catastrophic damage to the economy, said adequate testing capabilities are not yet in place in Pennsylvania or anywhere else to start trying to return to normal.

- Associated Press

Pennsylvania reaches 27,735 total COVID-19 cases, as Centre County adds another confirmed case

One new case of the coronavirus was reported Thursday in Centre County by the state Department of Health, raising the total number of cases in the county to 73.

There are 27,735 cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania as of noon Thursday, an increase of 1,245 since noon Wednesday. Thursday marks the seventh consecutive day that single-day increases have been at or below 10%.

The coronavirus first appeared in the state March 6; Centre County reported its first case March 20; and all 67 of the state’s counties reported a case by April 7.

- by Bret Pallotto

Penn State plans to extend online-only classes through summer, reduces summer tuition

Penn State is planning to continue online-only instruction through the summer and will reduce summer tuition “in light of the ongoing pandemic,” although it still left the door open for returning to campus earlier if health experts deem it safe.

The university announced Wednesday that it intends to avoid in-person classes through the Maymester, first summer session and second summer session. But, if the dynamic of the coronavirus changes for the better, it could provide in-person instruction in time for the second summer session that starts July 1.

Tuition has also been adjusted for the summer, pending approval by the board of trustees next month. A typical in-state underclassman at University Park will save about 23%, or $171, per credit. A non-resident will save about 34%, or $501, per credit. (In those specific examples, in-state residents will now pay $545 per credit while those out-of-state will pay $957.)

- by Josh Moyer

Health care

• Penn State Hershey has begun enrolling participants in an international clinical trial to evaluate an investigational drug for the treatment of COVID-19, according to a Thursday press release. The drug, remdesivir, has been previously tested in humans with Ebola and has shown some therapeutic benefit against SARS and MERS coronaviruses in animal models. The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is one of 75 sites worldwide to participate in the trial, and the only site in central Pennsylvania. Enrollment in the trial at the Hershey site is open only to patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The trial is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Penn State

• Penn State is expected to receive about $55 million from the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund under the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Half of the money — or approximately $27.5 million — will be earmarked for emergency financial aid grants for Penn State students, according to the university.

Pennsylvania news

• Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday that the Department of Human Services will begin emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit insurance. Payments, in line with the federal government’s interpretation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, include a supplemental increase for March and April and will continue for current SNAP households through April 29.

• Workers are returning to the job at some state-owned liquor stores after Gov. Tom Wolf’s office gave the OK to reopen 106 of the state system’s 600 stores to help fulfill the pike in online sales, the AP reported. The state’s online system has been overwhelmed after Wolf ordered the liquor stores to close in March. On Wednesday, the system more than doubled its daily capacity, filling 4,400 orders.

• Pennsylvania is facing a projected budget deficit ranging between $4.5 billion and $5 billion, Gov. Tom Wolf wrote in a letter to President Donald Trump. The letter, dated Wednesday, backed calls from other governors for another $500 billion in federal aid for states fighting COVID-19, the AP reported. Fellow Democratic governors Tony Evers, of Wisconsin, and Gretchen Whitmer, of Michigan, also signed the letter.

• Pennsylvania’s coronavirus testing numbers have seen a sharp decrease. State health officials have gone from reporting more than 7,000 tests per day to now less than 4,000, the AP reported. “We’ve had great difficulty accessing the reagents and chemicals,” state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We’d like to do much more widespread testing.”

Municipal services

• State College Borough Council’s next meeting will be held virtually at 7 p.m. Monday. Access the meeting here.
• The borough of State College issued additional guidance on Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that requires all customers and employees at life-sustaining businesses to wear masks and maintain proper social distancing, among other safety protocols. Failure to comply can result in citations fine or license suspensions.

Community outreach/appreciation

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 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.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is holding a national small business town hall at noon Friday. Register for the online event here.
• The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, is offering a free webinar on legal and financial planning on Thursday. Visit alz.org/crf to register.
• Pennsylvania 4-H is offering new in-home activities to keep children engaged. The Inspire Kids to Do Home Activities program encourages self-learning using household items. Projects will be added throughout the month.

• The Penn State All-Sports Museum will be hosting a virtual chat at 1:30 p.m. Friday with former Nittany Lion athletes Maggie Harding (women’s volleyball, 2014) and Jim Nelson (football 1997). Register for the event at https://bit.ly/3cjBsvC.

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.
• 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.
• The YMCA of Centre County distributes larger bags of food for families to use over the weekend and meals for seniors and veterans at a family site in Centre Hall. The food is handed out noon to 2 p.m. Fridays at Progress Grange, 217 S. Pennsylvania Ave.

This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 9:56 AM.