Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on May 22

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

Centre County will not move to the ‘green phase’ next week. Here’s why — and who will

Seventeen Pennsylvania counties are poised to move to the “green phase,” the least-restrictive phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening plan, on May 29 — but Centre County is not among them.

And that’s not because the county’s coronavirus numbers are increasing.

Gov. Tom Wolf intimated that his office was prepared to move the county into the green phase. But he told reporters Friday afternoon that county officials requested the county be kept in the yellow phase.

- by Josh Moyer

Centre County government employee tests positive for COVID-19, officials say

A Centre County government employee has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials confirmed Friday.

This is the first case of COVID-19 among county government employees. Those who may have come in contact with the unidentified employee have been notified, county Administrator Margaret Gray said in a release.

- by Marley Parish

With 2 new COVID-19 cases Friday, how has Centre County fared since it started reopening?

Centre County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases in the two weeks since the stay-at-home order was lifted is about half of what it was in the two weeks prior.

About 25 new cases per 100,000 were reported from April 24 through May 7 in Centre County, according to data provided by the state Health Department.

Gov. Tom Wolf removed his stay-at-home order May 8, and also allowed retail businesses and child care facilities to at least partially reopen as part of the “yellow phase” in his three-phase plan.

About 13 new cases per 100,000 have been reported in the two weeks since, according to the DOH’s statistics.

- by Bret Pallotto

Here’s how Nittany Lions fans, teams participated in Penn State’s virtual ‘family dinner’

The Penn State community came together Thursday evening for the Penn State Family Dinner as a part of Helping Happy Valley Week. Promoted by Penn State football, it was a night where Nittany Lions fans could participate by wearing blue and white, ordering out from a local restaurant and posting a picture with the #PSUFamily hashtag.

The dinner started at 6 p.m, where Penn Staters could tune in to the Penn State Athletics Facebook page to see Penn State coaches participating in the event. At 7 p.m. the Penn State Men’s Basketball read the “Read with Us” bedtime story.

- by Acacia Aster Broder

More of Pennsylvania emerges from coronavirus shutdowns

Twelve more counties emerged Friday from Gov. Tom Wolf’s strictest shutdown orders in Pennsylvania’s bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus as Wolf prepared to announce which other counties have seen new infections slow enough to join them.

In addition, Wolf has suggested that he could ease practically all of the state’s pandemic restrictions on business activity and gatherings in some other counties in the coming days.

- The Associated Press

Pennsylvania jobless rate hits 15.1% as payrolls collapse

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate skyrocketed in April at the height of the state’s pandemic-driven shutdown to its highest rate in over four decades of record-keeping, the state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday.

Meanwhile, payrolls fell by more than 1 million to the lowest level in at least three decades.

- The Associated Press

Pennsylvania track to resume racing, flouting shutdown

A Pennsylvania dirt track that says it’s already been cited twice for flouting Gov. Tom Wolf’s business shutdown was expected to draw hundreds or even thousands of people to its first auto races of the season this weekend.

Penn Can Speedway in rural Susquehanna County planned to hold races on its dirt oval a few miles from the New York state line. General Manager JoAnne Mady said Friday she expects the largest crowd in Penn Can’s 65-year history, with race teams making the trip from as far away as Florida.

- The Associated Press

Nursing home testing a massive challenge for Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania would have to boost its testing numbers several times over to meet Gov. Tom Wolf’s goal of administering a weekly coronavirus test to well over 100,000 people in nearly 2,000 long-term care facilities across the state.

It’s unclear who would administer the tests, who would supply them – and who would pay.

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have struggled for months to contain the virus, with many lacking the trained staff, testing supplies and personal protective equipment, according to public health experts.

- The Associated Press

Wolf administration loosening ban on foreclosures, evictions

A tenant who damages property, breaks the law or breaches the lease in some other way can now be evicted under a modified executive order issued by Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday.

The temporary ban still applies to evictions and foreclosures for nonpayment or because a tenant has overstayed a lease. The moratorium is scheduled to last until July 10.

The Wolf administration has been fighting legal action by landlords who say the governor overstepped his authority by imposing a moratorium on evictions. His spokeswoman, Lyndsay Kensinger, said the decision to amend the executive order was considered before the litigation was filed “in consideration of feedback from stakeholders.”

- The Associated Press

Federal government begins distributing $238 million in emergency aid to Pennsylvania nursing homes

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it is making payments to 587 nursing homes. Each nursing home will get a fixed payment of $50,000, plus $2,500 per bed. The money can be used to pay staff, boost testing capacity, acquire protective equipment and for other expenses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nursing homes have seen declining patient populations and increased costs as they struggle to contain the virus. Long-term care residents account for about two-thirds of the statewide death toll of more than 4,800, a higher proportion than in most other states.

- The Associated Press

Could funding for long-awaited Centre County road projects be affected by COVID-19?

Two long-awaited roadway projects are expected to move forward this summer, but COVID-19 could limit the progress of future projects.

In a virtual public hearing, members of the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization and county planning officials discussed the proposed 2021-24 Transportation Improvement Program — a plan that outlines priorities for how federal and state funds will be used for local road, bridge and transit projects in the coming years.

-by Marley Parish

Notice more people in State College? What to know about social distancing violations

Eased COVID-19 mitigation efforts, warmer weather and an upcoming federal holiday has led people to steadily and gradually return to Happy Valley.

The State College Police Department and the borough’s Ordinance Enforcement Department each reported increased activity the past two weeks throughout the borough, interim Mayor Ron Filippelli said Monday in his video address.

-by Bret Pallotto

Centre County libraries resume operations with ‘limited services’ to accept returns

After being closed for more than two months, Centre County libraries are gearing up to reopen, but patrons still aren’t allowed inside.

Instead, library branches are preparing to process tens of thousands of returns.

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries granted Schlow Centre Region Library, located at 211 S. Allen St. in State College, permission to resume operations with “limited services.” Earlier this month, staff members worked to deep clean facilities in preparation for the partial reopening, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

-by Marley Parish

Education

Jobs

Community feedback

• A new survey is asking State College businesses about their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. The responses will guide the borough and Redevelopment Authority as they develop programs to help local businesses. The survey will close at 11:59 p.m. May 31 and can be found here.

• Penn State has teamed up with local leaders for the Centre County COVID-19 Data 4 Action Project (Data 4 Action). The first initiative of the project is an anonymous survey, which will document how the pandemic is impacting Centre County residents’ lives and their experiences they as return to work and school. The survey launched Monday at Data4Action.psu.edu and can also be taken by phone from noon-7 p.m. Monday-Friday at 753-4799. All adult Centre County residents are asked to complete the survey by June 12. For every 100 individuals who complete the survey, Penn State will make a $100 donation to the Centre County Food Pantries (serving residents throughout the county) and will donate up to $10,000.

Municipal updates

Recreation

Health care

Pennsylvania news

• The Wolf administration released guidance about summer camps and child care programs Friday. The document covers topics such as the types of summer programs that can operate during the state’s reopening, additional requirements beyond federal guidelines for youth programs, rules on face coverings and the status of playgrounds and team sports.

• The Department of Corrections will reopen state prisons starting Tuesday, Secretary John Wetzel said. The system will use a phased approach that ties into the statewide reopening plan. As counties move from red to yellow to green, prisons there will lift more restrictions, with level 5 being the most restrictive and level 1 the least. “While we may never return to pre-COVID operations, we do expect to return to near normal operations that includes social distancing and continued monitoring of staff and inmates for symptoms,” Wetzel said in a statement Friday. “We believe in acting quickly and aggressively when responding to this virus, while affording more out-of-cell time and allowing inmates to return to work, education, programming and activities.” Staff and inmates will be required to wear masks, while contact visits are suspended at all levels until the entire state is green. Benner Township and Rockview state prisons will move to level 3 on Tuesday, the DOC said.
• License to carry firearm permits have been extended a second time, state police said Thursday. Permits that expired March 19 or later have been extended to July 31. The previous extension was set to expire May 30. The extension was made because some county courthouses and sheriff’s offices have been closed, along with other COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
• Two Centre County organizations will receive thousands of dollars in grants to fight hunger and prevent food waste, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday. CommonFood Inc. will receive $99,633 while FaithCentre will receive $73,850 through the Department of Environmental Protection’s expanded food recovery infrastructure grant. The grants will allow food banks to cover the costs of equipment purchases needed to transport and store food from retailers, farms and processors. “Our goal when expanding the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant was to quickly get money to the people that could do the most to help, and the charitable organizations of Pennsylvania responded,” DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said in a statement. “These grants will help guarantee food security to our residents that need it.” Central Pennsylvania Community Action Inc. in Clearfield County — which serves Centre County residents — was also among the 145 food banks, soup kitchens and churches from across the state to receive a grant.
• A new law allows the temporary sale of to-go cocktails at bars, restaurants and hotels with a liquor license. Gov. Tom Wolf signed the legislation Thursday. “This new temporary rule creates more business for bars and restaurants when they need it, helps to meet customer demand and supports social distancing,” Wolf said in a statement. “As we approach the holiday weekend, I encourage all Pennsylvanians to remember to drink responsibly.” The beverages can be sold in quantities between 4 and 64 ounces before 11 p.m.
• The state will distribute $51 million to child care providers through CARES Act funding, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday. Centre County is in line to receive $502,800. Pennsylvania received a total of $106 million to support child care providers through the coronavirus aid bill and will deliver the funding in two phases. The first wave of $51 million is meant to help providers preparing to reopen in counties that are in the yellow phase.

• Gov. Tom Wolf and Treasurer Joe Torsella announced Tuesday that eligible older homeowners and renters and people with disabilities will begin receiving property tax and rent rebates on Wednesday, more than six weeks ahead of schedule. “This commonsense solution gives thousands of our older and vulnerable residents their rebates early when they need it,” Wolf said in a release. “I thank members of the General Assembly and Treasurer Torsella for working quickly on this issue so that we can provide this needed financial support.” The deadline to submit applications has also been extended to Dec. 31.

Community outreach/appreciation

• The Centre County United Way’s Hamer Foundation Community Disaster Fund will provide financial assistance to county residents who are struggling due to COVID-19. Those in need must contact Centre Helps to be eligible for help from the fund. Centre Helps will decide whether to apply for funding on that person’s behalf or refer him or her to an organization that will seek out all available support before applying for funds. Requests for funding, which will be $150,000 in the first phase, can be for items such as rent, mortgage payments, food, utility bills, medication costs and child care. Nonprofits interesting in applying on behalf of a client can find out more at www.ccunitedway.org/hamer-foundation-community-disaster-fund.

• Discovery Space’s makerspace, The Rivet, has manufactured and distributed more than 1,000 face shields free of charge to more than 30 local organizations, according to a news release. Beneficiaries include senior housing facilities, local government organizations and a variety of nonprofits. The biggest recipient was Centre County Board of Elections, which recently received 400 face shields to use for both the upcoming primary and the November elections. Other notable recipients include CATA, The Village at Penn State, Centre Crest and Lifelink. The Rivet is also acting as a collection and distribution point for donated PPE in the area. To make requests or donations, email The Rivet at TheRivet@DiscoverySpace.org.

Things to do

• With Boalsburg’s annual Memorial Day celebration canceled, Harris Township will post a new Memorial Day moment on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/harristownship, each day leading up to May 25. At 6 p.m. on Memorial Day, the 156th Walk to the Cemetery will be held virtually.

• The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State moved its program online during the pandemic. The group offers courses, trips and activities for those 50 and older. OLLI’s summer course catalog is available online and registration begins June 1. The summer semester begins June 15.

• 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 22, 2020 at 8:42 AM.