Centre County reports 1 new COVID-19 case as Pennsylvania’s total exceeds 60,000
Centre County added one new COVID-19 case Friday — bringing its total to 129 since the pandemic began.
The state Department of Health reported 60,622 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania as of noon Friday, an increase of 986 since Thursday. That marks the fifth consecutive day that there has been less than 1,000 cases.
According to the state’s data, the new case was not associated with a nursing or personal care home. Centre County has had 16 residents test positive for the virus and 11 employees over three different facilities, per the DOH.
Of Centre County’s six COVID-19, the DOH says four have been associated with nursing or personal care homes.
Specific facilities are not identified by the DOH, but three — The Oaks at Pleasant Gap, Wynwood House at State College and Centre Crest — have each confirmed at least one COVID-19 case.
As of Friday, Deputy Coroner Debra Smeal said the coroner’s office had not yet been notified of a sixth COVID-19-related death. So far, three of the deaths associated with long-term care facilities have been confirmed.
Two residents of The Oaks at Pleasant Gap died last week of COVID-19, a spokesperson from the facility confirmed. Both patients died at Mount Nittany Medical Center, the first, on May 8, involving a 96-year-old male and the second on Saturday with an 89-year-old female, according to the Centre County coroner’s office.
One Wynwood House resident died Wednesday of COVID-19, owner Vincent Romanini said Thursday.
It’s unclear why there are inconsistencies with the state’s reporting and confirmed reports between the coroner’s office and facilities in Centre County. Some of the new deaths statewide reported are the result of a reconciliation of data over the past several weeks, according to the DOH.
The Keystone State has the sixth-most cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The statewide death toll increased Friday by 124, bringing the total to 4,342.
Nearly 1,500 Centre County residents have been tested as of Friday. About 8% have tested positive, according to the DOH. It is unknown how many Pennsylvanians have recovered from the coronavirus as the DOH isn’t notified when patients are discharged.
The coronavirus first appeared in the state March 6, and every one of the state’s 67 counties had at least one confirmed case by April 7. Centre County reported its first case March 20 and its first death — an 89-year-old man — on April 17.
The county reported its first case in a nursing or personal care home April 28. Twenty-seven of the county’s 41 new cases since then have been reported in a long-term care facility.
In Centre County, here’s the breakdown by ZIP code (those without cases are not listed):
- 16823 (Bellefonte, Milesburg and Pleasant Gap): 37
16801 (State College): 28
16803 (State College): 19
16827 (Boalsburg): 9
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 8
16866, 16686, 16844, 16828, 16852, 16822: 1-4 cases each (Specific numbers are not available)
According to the state’s hospital preparedness dashboard, which was last updated noon Tuesday, 1,982 Pennsylvanians are hospitalized and receiving treatment for the coronavirus.
Every county surrounding Centre County has at least 32 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Totals from nearby counties are as follows:
- Blair County: 32 cases (0 deaths)
- Cambria County: 49 cases (one death)
- Clearfield County: 33 cases (0 deaths)
- Clinton County: 43 cases (0 deaths)
- Huntingdon County: 204 cases (0 deaths)
- Juniata County: 94 cases (one death)
- Mifflin County: 57 cases (0 deaths)
- Union County: 44 cases (one death)
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.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 12:26 PM.
