Centre County adds 3 new COVID-19 cases as total in Pennsylvania tops 67,000
Centre County added three cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, according to the state Department of Health, bringing the overall total to 146 cases since March 20.
The state DOH reports six deaths of Centre County residents, with the most recent reported Saturday, though Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers told the Centre Daily Times that he has not been notified about new deaths.
The state DOH counts COVID-19 deaths toward the individual’s county of residence, meaning a Centre County resident who dies elsewhere would still appear in the county’s total.
Data on cases in nursing or personal care homes has not been updated since Friday, when two Centre County facilities — Wynwood House at State College and The Oaks at Pleasant Gap — were listed with at least 30 combined cases. Wynwood House is listed as having 16 cases among residents and 11 among employees, though owner Vincent Romanini has disputed the state’s data. Cases at The Oaks are redacted from the state’s data because there are fewer than five cases among residents or employees.
Centre Crest in Bellefonte has also confirmed COVID-19 cases at its facility, but is not included on the state’s list.
Statewide, the numbers continue to rise — but the rate of confirmed positive cases has slowed. As of noon Sunday, there are now 67,713 total cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, meaning 730 cases are new. That marks the 14th straight day that single-day increases have been below 1,000 — a considerable decrease from the April 9 peak of 1,989 new cases.
The state is now estimating recoveries by counting those who have survived 30 days past their first positive tests — and, according to that data, 60% of patients in the state have recovered.
Locally, every county surrounding Centre County now has at least 34 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Totals from nearby counties are as follows:
- Blair County: 46 (1 death)
- Cambria County: 57 (2 deaths)
- Clearfield County: 34 (0 deaths)
- Clinton County: 50 (1 death)
- Huntingdon County: 228 (1 death)
- Juniata County: 95 (4 deaths)
- Mifflin County: 58 (1 death)
- Union County: 53 (1 death)
In Centre County, here’s the breakdown by ZIP code (those without cases are not listed):
- 16823 (Bellefonte, Milesburg and Pleasant Gap): 39
- 16801 (State College): 33
16803 (State College): 23
16827 (Boalsburg): 9
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 8
- 16686 (Tyrone): 6
16666, 16841, 16866, 16844, 16828, 16852, 16822: 1-4 cases each (Specific numbers not available)
The statewide death toll from the virus also rose Saturday, increasing by 28 to 5,124 total.
According to the state Department of Health, about 37% of positive cases in the state involve someone aged 25-49, followed by those 65 and older (29%) and those aged 50-64 (25%). Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.
According to the state’s hospital preparedness dashboard, one COVID-19 patient (and three non-COVID-19 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 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.
The state updates its county-by-county coronavirus numbers at noon every day.