Centre County reports no new COVID-19 cases for 2nd straight day as Pennsylvania total tops 48,000
For the second straight day, Centre County added no new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, as the total number of cases in the county remained steady Saturday at 96, according to the state Department of Health.
That means the county has had about 14 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks — which remains well within the state’s target goal of having 50 such cases or fewer.
Statewide, the numbers continue to rise — but the rate of confirmed positive cases has slowed. As of noon Saturday, there are now 48,305 total cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, meaning 1,334 cases are new. That marks the 23rd straight day that single-day increases have been at or below 10%, after 34 consecutive days of the rate bouncing between 12% and 100%.
“As we see the number of new COVID-19 cases continuously change across the state, that does not mean we can stop practicing social distancing,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a written statement Saturday. “We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families and our community.”
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday that 24 counties — including Centre County — will partially re-open May 8. But local officials told the Centre Daily Times that it could take a full year before the county is completely opened.
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. However, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 1 million patients have fully recovered worldwide out of about 3.4 million infected. (By comparison, 239,345 have died worldwide as of noon Saturday.)
Locally, every county surrounding Centre County now has at least 16 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Totals from nearby counties are as follows:
- Blair County: 23 (0 deaths)
- Cambria County: 32 (1 death)
- Clearfield County: 16 (0 deaths)
- Clinton County: 34 (0 deaths)
- Huntingdon County: 48 (0 deaths)
- Juniata County: 84 (1 death)
- Mifflin County: 38 (0 deaths)
- Union County: 38 (0 deaths)
In Centre County, here’s the breakdown by ZIP code (those without cases are not listed):
- 16823 (Bellefonte, Milesburg and Pleasant Gap): 28
- 16801 (State College): 26
16827 (Boalsburg): 9
- 16803 (State College): 8
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 7
16666, 16841, 16866, 16686, 16844, 16828, 16852, 16822: 1-4 cases each (Specific numbers not available)
The statewide death toll from the virus also rose Saturday, increasing by 64 to 2,418 total. So far, one total COVID-19 death has been reported in Centre County — an 89-year-old man, according to Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers. (That death was first reported by the state April 17 but occurred a day earlier.)
Nursing/personal care home data was also updated Saturday, although the state’s numbers are just now catching up to what the Centre Daily Times has already reported. According to the state DOH, there are now two “new” cases among employees — but those cases were already confirmed Tuesday from the Oaks at Pleasant Gap and Friday by Wynwood House at State College. And those numbers already appeared to be incorporated in the county’s totals.
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 (27%). When it comes to hospitalizations, 20% of those 80 and older who test positive are admitted — followed by those 65-79 (20%), 50-64 (10%), 30-49 (5%) and 0-29 (2%).
According to the state’s hospital preparedness dashboard, no patients in the county are on ventilator care. Dr. Nirmal Joshi, chief medical officer for Mount Nittany Health, told the CDT last month 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. The most well-known symptoms are cough and shortness of breath — but can also include the presence of at least two of the following: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and loss of taste/smell.
Symptoms can appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure, according to the CDC.
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 out are urged to wear masks.
“Please stay at home whenever you can, avoid unnecessary social contact and keep washing your hands,” said Dr. Brian Newcomb, director of the Mount Nittany Medical Center emergency department. “Remember the most vulnerable in our community and how much they’re relying on all of us right now. Practicing social distancing can significantly help to slow the spread of COVID-19. ... We’re all in this together.”
The state updates its county-by-county coronavirus numbers at noon every day.
This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 12:24 PM.
