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

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

Centre County reports no new cases of COVID-19, as Pennsylvania now tops 61,000 overall cases

For the first time in five days, Centre County reported no new cases of COVID-19 — the disease caused by the coronavirus — as the overall number of cases remained steady Saturday at 129, according to the state Department of Health.

That means the county, which partially reopened May 8, has had about 17 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks. The rate 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 61,611 total cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, meaning 989 cases are new. That marks the 37th straight day that single-day increases have been at or below 10%, and the 16th consecutive day increases have been below 3%, after 34 consecutive days of the rate bouncing between 12% and 100%.

- by Josh Moyer

Will Centre County residents see an increase in taxes as school districts plan for the start of the fiscal year?

As students wrap up online learning, school administrators are scrambling to plan for the start of the fiscal year.

With COVID-19 wreaking havoc on finances across the country, Centre County residents could see an increase in taxes as area school districts anticipate millions in revenue loss. Before educators add more financial stress to district residents and families, financial officers are working to cut costs and secure alternative sources of funding.

On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced that the state Department of Education was approved to receive $523.8 million in one-time federal emergency funds. The money is supported by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act — an initiative that provided $13.2 billion to support the continued learning of K-12 students.

- by Marley Parish

As elective services resume, here’s what to expect when you visit the doctor in Centre County

Appointments, elective surgeries and other health care services that were scaled back in mid-March to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus are gradually resuming in Centre County.

Following is a look at what to expect at three of the biggest health care networks that operate in Centre County.

- by Bret Pallotto

Catholic churches around Centre County to reopen for private prayer; 4-phase reopening plan released

Catholic churches in Centre County won’t reopen for “regular” Mass just yet, but the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown — which includes eight counties, including Centre — announced Wednesday afternoon they’re finalizing a four-phase plan that will go into effect Saturday.

Come Saturday, Catholic churches will open only for private prayer and for those wearing masks, with seating restrictions to promote social-distancing amid the global pandemic. Other acts — such as communion, confession, Mass, etc. — will come in future phases.

“Although much still needs to happen before truly returning to the normal life of the Church, today’s announcement that parishes may reopen their doors and the faithful may return for private prayer is a great first step,” Secretary for Communications Tony DeGol said in a written statement. “As we continue to move forward, we ask for everyone’s patience and understanding.”

- by Josh Moyer

What does moving into the ‘yellow phase’ mean for Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests?

Pennsylvanians can expect to have more outdoor recreation options available to them as Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration begins to ease some COVID-19 mitigation efforts in certain parts of the state.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources each opted for a phased reopening of facilities and services that closed in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Many of the changes were implemented only in the 24 counties, including Centre County, that moved into the yellow phase of Wolf’s reopening plan on Friday. Wolf also announced Friday that 13 additional counties, in western Pennsylvania, will enter the yellow phase on May 15.

- by Bret Pallotto

Ready to get back to the movies? Here’s how a central Pa. drive-in is preparing to open

Seventy years after it first began, the Super 322 Drive-In is still going strong — and even the novel coronavirus hasn’t stopped it.

While the global pandemic has shut down movie theaters across the state, a disappointment for many movie lovers, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office clarified earlier this week that drive-ins — such as the one in Clearfield County, between Clearfield and Philipsburg — will still be allowed to operate. Of course, that currently only goes for drive-ins in “yellow” phase counties, but Super 322 is one of the few drive-ins located in an area set to partially reopen Friday.

It’s also the closest drive-in to Centre County, about a 10-minute drive from Philipsburg and a 45-minute drive from State College. It’s currently the only nearby spot that Centre County residents will be able to watch movies, outside of personal computers and TVs.

- by Josh Moyer

Reopening

Closings/cancellations

Recreation

Business updates

Education

Jobs

Municipal updates

• Ferguson Township is asking residents to take a six-question survey about how COVID-19 updates can be communicated. The survey closes on Monday and can be found here.

• The State College Borough Public Works Department will resume normal bulk and brush collections. Bulk items and brush are collected throughout the week beginning on Monday, unless there is a legal holiday during that week. To schedule bulk collection, visit http://www.statecollegepa.us/forms.aspx?fid=152.

Pennsylvania news

• The state Department of Health on Friday distributed the second shipment of the investigational antiviral medication, remdesivir, to treat patients in the hospital with COVID-19. On Friday, 1,548 doses of medication were sent today to 21 hospitals, and a second shipment of 6,390 doses will be distributed to 58 hospitals on Monday. The DOH first distributed 1,200 doses of the medication from the federal government to 51 hospitals across Pennsylvania on Tuesday. “The department is working to give our hospitals every opportunity to treat patients with COVID-19,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a statement. “It is important to note that there is limited information on the safety and effectiveness of using remdesivir to treat people in the hospital with COVID-19. However, it was shown in a clinical trial to shorten the recovery time in some people, which is why the Food and Drug Administration has authorized the emergency use of the medication for treatment.”
• The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission said Friday that all state-owned historic sites and museums, including the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, will be closed to the public until their counties enter the green phase of the state’s reopening plan. Thirty-seven counties, including Centre, Clinton, Clearfield and Blair, are in the yellow phase, and another 12 are set to join next Friday. The remaining counties are in the red phase.

Community outreach/appreciation

• The State College Area School District is holding a “Stuff the Bus” food collection drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to benefit the State College Food Bank. Nonperishable food items, including those on the food bank’s “greatest needs” list, can be dropped off at Corl Street, Easterly Parkway, Ferguson Township, Gray’s Woods, Mount Nittany, Park Forest, Radio Park and Spring Creek elementary schools, and Mount Nittany Middle and Park Forest middle schools. The district’s school buses will then pick up the food and deliver the donations to the food bank the next day.

Things to do

• Penn State released a list of virtual things to do from May 14-21, including online lectures, exhibits and more.
• Penn State President Eric Barron will host a virtual town hall at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to answer questions regarding how the university continue to manage the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, including the work being done to return students and staff to campus. The hourlong event will be livestreamed at liveevents.psu.edu, and also feature Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones and other key faculty and administrative leaders.
• Penn State University Police and Public Safety is holding four public safety Zoom sessions each week through May 27. Two sessions each week will cover Penn State’s Active Attacker Response Program, and the other two will be open question and answer sessions with Penn State police officers. Participants should register with a Penn State email in advance; space is limited. Register here for the Active Attacker Response Program. Register here for the open public safety Q&A session.

Free meal options

This story was originally published May 16, 2020 at 10:56 AM.