Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on April 18

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

Blue-White Game cancellation didn’t keep Penn State football fans from tailgating — virtually

Even though there wasn’t a Blue-White Game on Saturday, it didn’t keep fans from tailgating — virtually.

Nittany Lions fans across the country dressed in their best blue and white, donned their Penn State-themed face masks and joined in virtual tailgating via the Zoom online conferencing app and through social media using the hashtag #BWVirtualTailgate.

Football players, such as Sean Clifford, Pat Freiermuth, Micah Parsons and Shaka Toney, and coaches Brent Pry, Tyler Bowen and Phil Trautwein even joined in the fun, “stopping by” some tailgates to chat with fans.

More than 8,000 people participated with more than 700 tailgates, according to Penn State football.

- by Lauren Muthler

Pennsylvania tops 31,000 total cases of COVID-19, as Centre County adds no new cases

After its first confirmed coronavirus-related death Friday, Centre County saw no new deaths Saturday and no new positive cases of COVID-19 to keep its overall positive case count steady at 73, according to the state Department of Health.

It is the fourth time in seven days that the county has not had a new case.

There are now 31,069 total cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania as of noon Saturday, meaning 1,628 cases are new. Although cases continue to climb — there were 1,706 new cases Friday and 1,245 Thursday — this marks the ninth straight day that single-day increases have been at or below 10%. (Prior to that, single-day increases ranged between 12% and 100% for 34 consecutive days.)

- by Josh Moyer

Business-to-business directory for outbreak supplies created

State officials in Pennsylvania have announced creation of a business-to-business directory for supplies related to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Department of Community and Economic Development says the business-to-business interchange directory is intended to connect organizations and businesses directly to manufacturers producing products and supplies related to the outbreak.

Secretary Dennis Davin said it’s intended to provide commonwealth residents access to critical supplies “expeditiously without a middleman.”

- Associated Press

What’s the economic toll on Happy Valley without the Blue-White Game? Experts, business owners explain

Dave Gerdes, the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau’s vice president of sales and marketing, was looking forward to this year’s Blue-White Game.

He enjoys the annual Penn State intrasquad scrimmage every year. It helps bring the community together, ushers in the warmth (usually) of spring — and provides a needed economic boost to the community. But, without the game this year, local businesses around the county are feeling the sting.

According to Gerdes, who works for the nonprofit visitors’ center, this weekend is economically one of the most important three-day stretches of the year for the area, routinely bringing in several million dollars to the local economy. Some downtown State College bars estimate they do about four times the business this weekend compared to “normal” days, and local hotels raked in an estimated $1.1 million for this weekend alone last year.

- by Josh Moyer

Geisinger, Mount Nittany Health launch contact tracing programs to fight COVID-19 spread

Hoping to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Geisinger and Mount Nittany Health have implemented programs to alert those who may have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive patient.

Geisinger developed its own COVID-19 test in March, but its newly launched contact tracing program alerts those who had close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, so they can self-isolate. State College-based Mount Nittany Health has partnered with the Penn State College of Medicine to conduct investigations for patients who’ve tested positive for COVID-19.

“Patients who test positive for COVID-19 are asked to supply a list of people with whom they have had close contact, beginning two days prior to showing symptoms,” Geisinger media specialist Malini Mattler said in a statement. “Close contacts include others in the patient’s household, those with whom they share a workspace or people who were within six feet of the patient for more than 10 minutes.”

- by Marley Parish

Centre County schools lit up football stadiums to honor COVID-19 fighters and Class of 2020

High schools around the state lit up their scoreboards Friday night from 8:20 to 8:40 (20:20 in military time) to honor the 2020 class and support everyone on the front line of the fight against COVID-19.

The scoreboards displayed a score of 20-20 to recognize the outgoing senior class and a down and distance of 4th-and-19 to signify COVID-19 being on its “final down.”

Supporters were also encouraged to show their support from home by turning on their porch lights and sounding noise makers and shaking pompoms.

- by Jon Sauber

Things to do

• In lieu of the annual Blue-White Game, Penn State Athletics will host 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.

• In the spirit of the Blue-White Game, the Penn State Alumni Association will host a live Q&A panel on its Facebook page at 1 p.m. Saturday with football lettermen Tom Pancoast, Freddie Scott, Lee Rubin and Jim Nelson.
• The 11th annual Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run will continue virtually on Sunday. At 11 a.m., virtual participants can tune into Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Facebook page for the livestream kickoff, featuring runners and guests such as Sue Paterno and Franco Harris. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities can take part in the 3.1-mile run and 2-mile family-fun walk at any time and place of their choosing. Participants are encouraged to share their progress on social media with the hashtag #VirtualBSR. To register, go to www.StadiumRun.org.

• The Penn State All-Sports Museum will host a virtual chat at 1:30 p.m. Friday with former Nittany Lion athletes Rich Makover (lacrosse, 1987) and Janae Whittaker Ali (gymnastics, 2000). Register for the event at https://bit.ly/3cjBsvC.

Pennsylvania news

• The Wolf administration announced a new COVID-19 testing site Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre. “From noon to 4 p.m. Monday, the site will be open for 100 first responders and health care workers from northeastern Pennsylvania who are having COVID-19 symptoms to get tested,” Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said in a release. The drive-thru testing site will be held in the parking lot and starting Tuesday will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required a day in advance.
  
  

• Almost $16 million in funding will be directed to Pennsylvania food banks, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Saturday. The state has received $14.9 million in from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide support and food to Pennsylvania’s food banks and emergency food assistance network. The state Agriculture Department also will provide $1 million in emergency funding to Hunger-Free Pennsylvania and its members for food and supplies.

• Curbside pickup begins Monday at some of Pennsylvania’s fine Wines and Good Spirits stores. Each store will take a limited number of orders from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday. In Centre County, curbside pickup will be available at the 1682 N. Atherton Street and 127 Southridge Plaza locations in State College. Orders are limited to no more than six bottles.

Regional services

• Centre Area Transportation Authorities reminds customers that effective Monday, anyone utilizing it services is required to wear a mask, in line with Gov. Tom Wolf’s recent order requiring public masking. The State College borough health office also issued additional guidance on what the order means locally. Among other protocols, the order requires customers and employees at all operating life-sustaining business to wear masks. Those who don’t comply can be subject to citations, fines or license suspension.

Free meal options

Community outreach

This story was originally published April 18, 2020 at 8:57 AM.