Centre County adds 6 new cases of COVID-19 as Pennsylvania tops 43,000 total cases
Centre County added six new cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, according to the state Department of Health.
There are now 93 cases in Centre County and 43,264 total cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, with 1,214 new cases coming since Monday at noon.
Centre County is also now on the state Department of Health’s list of counties with a case of COVID-19 associated with a nursing home or personal care home. There is one COVID-19 case in one county facility, according to the state. The name of facilities with coronavirus cases are not released in Pennsylvania, although state and federal politicians have received some bipartisan support in making such details public.
Last week, the state Department of Health website listed one case and one death at a Centre County nursing home or personal care home, but that information was later removed.
According to the state Department of Health, as cases and deaths are investigated, they are reported based on the county of residence and the data is updated as more information becomes available.
One COVID-19 death has been reported in Centre County, an 89-year-old man who died on April 16, according to Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers. The statewide death toll increased by 119 from Monday to Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,716.
It is unknown how many Pennsylvanians, or Centre County residents, have recovered from the coronavirus because the state Department of Health doesn’t receive reports when patients are discharged. There are 165,824 patients who have tested negative in Pennsylvania to date.
Every county surrounding Centre County has at least 11 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Totals from nearby counties are as follows:
- Blair County: 21 cases (0 deaths)
- Cambria County: 22 cases (one death)
- Clearfield County: 11 cases (zero deaths)
- Clinton County: 29 cases (zero deaths)
- Huntingdon County: 26 cases (0 deaths)
- Juniata County: 81 cases (0 deaths)
- Mifflin County: 34 cases (0 deaths)
- Union County: 33 cases (0 deaths)
In Centre County, here’s the breakdown by ZIP code (those without cases are not listed):
- 16801 (State College): 26
16823 (Bellefonte, Milesburg and Pleasant Gap): 25
16827 (Boalsburg): 9
- 16803 (State College): 8
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 7
16866, 16686, 16844, 16841, 16828, 16852, 16822: 1-4 cases each (Specific numbers not available)
Gov. Tom Wolf announced last week that the statewide stay-at-home order will be extended until May 8, but the state’s economy will be gradually reopened beginning that day. Centre County is among the first areas slated to begin reopening.
According to the state Department of Health, about 38% of positive cases in the state involve someone aged 25-49, followed by those aged 50-64 (27%) and 65 and older (26%). Fewer people over 65 have contracted the virus, but the hospitalization rate of those aged 65-79 and 80+ are the highest in the state. Those groups each have a 20% hospitalization rate while those aged 50-64 have been hospitalized 10% of the time.
According to the state’s hospital preparedness dashboard, no COVID-19 patients in the county are on ventilator care. Dr. Nirmal Joshi, chief medical officer for Mount Nittany Health, recently told the CDT that the hospital can currently provide ventilator care for up to 40 patients.
Anyone who believes they came into contact with someone who might have the coronavirus is advised to monitor their health and call their primary care provider if they develop symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. Symptoms can appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
Those who believe they might be sick are encouraged to stay at home except to get medical care. Residents are also urged to call their health care provider before visiting. And those who do venture outside are urged to wear masks.
The state updates its county-by-county coronavirus numbers at noon every day.
