Centre County reports 1 new case of COVID-19, as Pennsylvania surpasses 70,000 overall cases
Centre County continued to show Thursday it’s ready for the next step in Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening phase by adding one new case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, to boost its overall case total to 150, according to the state Department of Health.
That means the county has had about 13 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. That number is part of the criteria that allowed the county to join 17 others in becoming the first Friday to move to the “green phase,” the least-restrictive phase of Wolf’s reopening plan.
Statewide, the number of recovered is outpacing the number of infected. Pennsylvania now defines a recovery as a patient having survived 30 days from a positive test. Based on that metric, the commonwealth officially had more people moved to the “recovery” column Thursday than were infected (625).
Overall, 64% of the 70,042 Pennsylvanians who tested positive for COVID-19 have now recovered. Using those same metrics, the Centre Daily Times estimates that 61% of county residents, about 92 patients, have also recovered.
Still, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine cautioned Pennsylvania residents not to get complacent.
“As Pennsylvania continues to move forward in the process to reopen, we need to remember that the threat from COVID-19 has not gone away,” Levine said Thursday in a written statement. “As counties move into the yellow and green phases, we must take personal responsibility to protect others. Wearing a mask, continuing to maintain social distancing, and washing your hands frequently are all steps we can take to help protect others, including our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.”
Locally, every county surrounding Centre County now has at least 37 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Totals from nearby counties are as follows:
- Blair County: 49 (1 death)
- Cambria County: 57 (2 deaths)
- Clearfield County: 37 (0 deaths)
- Clinton County: 55 (2 deaths)
- Huntingdon County: 228 (2 deaths)
- Juniata County: 95 (4 deaths)
- Mifflin County: 58 (1 death)
- Union County: 56 (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): 25
16827 (Boalsburg): 9
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 9
- 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 Thursday, increasing by 108 to 5,373. So far, six total COVID-19 deaths have been confirmed in Centre County — an 89-year-old man on April 16, a 96-year-old man May 8, an 89-year-old woman May 9, a 74-year-old man May 12, an 88-year-old woman May 13 and an 88-year-old man Wednesday, according to the Centre County Coroner’s Office.
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 (28%) and those aged 50-64 (25%). Hospitalizations follow a similar trend: Those 65 and older account for 56% of hospitalizations, followed by the 50-64 age group (26%) and the 25-49 age group (16%).
According to the state’s hospital preparedness dashboard, no COVID-19 patients (and one non-COVID-19 patient) 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.
“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 28, 2020 at 12:24 PM.
