Coronavirus

Reopening updates: No new COVID-19 cases added in Centre County, and more updates for June 18

By CDT staff reports

Updated June 19, 2020 9:46 AM

We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date coronavirus news now that Centre County is in the green phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to reopen Pennsylvania. Check back for updates.

Mount Nittany Health eliminates 250 positions, citing $70 million revenue shortfall

Mount Nittany Health announced Thursday a second wave of cuts to combat revenue shortfalls and a reduction in patient volume due, at least in part, to the coronavirus pandemic.

The State College-based health care system eliminated about 250 positions, about 10% of its staff, to address an expected $70 million revenue shortfall, according to a news release.

Executive compensation and spending on contracted services and supplies was also reduced by 10%, the organization said.

-by Bret Pallotto

Centre County adds no new cases of COVID-19

No new COVID-19 cases were reported in Centre County Thursday, according to the state Department of Health, as total cases statewide surpassed 80,000.

The county’s total remains at 172 cases since the first was reported March 20. On Wednesday, five cases were removed from Centre County’s total. While the reason is unclear, DOH spokesman Nate Wardle said the decrease could be tied to populations living at temporary residences.

Across Pennsylvania, 418 new cases were reported Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 80,236.

The state’s COVID-19 death count increased by 42, bringing the total number of deaths to 6,361. There have been six deaths related to the novel coronavirus in Centre County, per the DOH.

In Centre County, here’s the breakdown by ZIP code (those without cases are not listed):

16823 (Bellefonte, Milesburg and Pleasant Gap): 41
16803 (State College): 34
16801 (State College): 35
16827 (Boalsburg): 10
16870 (Port Matilda): 9
16686 (Tyrone): 7
16822 (Beech Creek): 5
16841 (Howard): 5
16666, 16828, 16844, 16845, 16852, 16860, 16865, 16866, 16872, 16875: 1-4 cases each (The state does not give specific numbers when there are fewer than five cases to protect patient privacy.)

-by Jessica McAllister

‘We need to turn to the arts.’ Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest takes 3-day festival online

The Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest looks a bit different this summer. In its third year, the festival is being held entirely virtually Friday through Sunday.

Organizer and festival co-founder Cynthia Mazzant said that in discussions with participants and theater companies, they knew early on that live performances were going to be majorly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then the State College Borough canceled all events through June 30, when festival planning was already underway, she said.

“We kept hearing from friends, family and patrons that we need the arts, we need to turn to the arts,” she said. “So the decision was not to cancel, but to continue to find a way to provide programming, some of it live streamed, some of it pre-recorded.”

-by Holly Riddle, for the CDT

Here’s how Centre County has fared with CO VID-19 cases since entering the ‘green phase’

Centre County has remained well below the state’s goal of fewer than 50 new confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000, even after transition to the least restrictive phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening plan.

About 11 new cases per 100,000 were reported in Centre County during the past two weeks, according to data provided by the state Health Department.

The metric is not the only one used to inform DOH decisions, but Centre County has consistently met other benchmarks as well.

- by Bret Pallotto

New event springs up to take place of canceled Penns Valley area carnival

As many of Centre County’s most beloved summer events are canceled due to COVID-19 precautions, other events are rising up to provide fun — yet still safe — ways for communities to gather. The first-ever Millheim Food & Fun Walk is one such event, taking place from 12:30-3 p.m. Saturday in downtown Millheim.

“Originally, the Millheim Fire Company carnival was set for the same day,” said one of the event organizers, Rebecca Larsen. “That’s something the Penns Valley area really, really looks forward to. The kids always look forward to that carnival. It’s a great one and gets a good turnout and supports the fire hall.”

-by Holly Riddle, for the CDT

NCAA approves plan for teams such as Penn State to begin preseason football camp

Penn State football could be moving closer to an on-time start to the 2020 season.

The NCAA Division I Council approved a preseason football plan Wednesday that has schools on track for their scheduled start.

The plan includes a six-week preseason leading up to the beginning of the regular season as well as a time frame for practices and workouts leading up to the preseason.

- by Jon Sauber

High court to decide lawsuit seeking end to disaster order

Pennsylvania’s highest court on Wednesday granted the Democratic governor’s request and took over a lawsuit by legislative Republicans that could end his pandemic shutdown order.

The Supreme Court announced it will decide the case filed by Senate Republicans, seeking to enforce a resolution that both chambers passed last week to end the state of disaster emergency imposed by Gov. Tom Wolf in March.

The case had been filed in Commonwealth Court, where Republicans hold a majority of the seats, but Democrats have a 5-2 edge on the Supreme Court.

- Associated Press

Health care

A COVID-19 drive-thru testing site has opened in the Walmart parking lot on North Atherton Street, according to a news release from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office. Quest Diagnostics and Walmart are working with the department to provide no-cost testing for residents living in areas where there are fewer testing sites. Starting Wednesday, the sites will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7-9 a.m. to test up to 50 registered patients daily. Registration is required one day in advance. For more information, visit www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Symptoms-Testing.aspx.
University Health Services is now offering telemedicine to provide safe and convenient health care for students. Those students who would normally have access to UHS providers and services will still be able to access those providers, with a few exceptions depending on the states they live in, via phone or video interactions. Telemedicine providers can diagnose, suggest follow-up care and prescribe medications. “We’re excited to be able to offer telemedicine visits to our students,” said Robin Oliver-Veronesi, senior director of UHS. “Please reach out to us with your medical concerns. We are here for you, and we will continue to support our students.” Visit the UHS webpage for more information. To make an appointment, call 814-863-0774.
All current Penn State employees at all campus locations and their immediate family members are eligible to use University Health Services Pharmacy, the university announced Tuesday. The UHS Pharmacy at University Park offers prescriptions and over-the-counter items by mail (home or campus) and curbside pickup from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Complete the Pharmacy Employee/Retiree Enrollment Form or call a customer service representative at 800-821-7285 to start filling prescriptions.

Penn State

Penn State will hold a pair of virtual town halls Monday to address questions and concerns related to its plan to return students, faculty and staff to campus and resume in-person learning in the fall. The first hourlong town hall is set for 2 p.m. and will be focused on faculty and staff. The second town hall, devoted to students and their families, will begin at 3:30 p.m. President Eric Barron will host both events, and will be joined by Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones, Vice President for Human Resources Lorraine Goffe, Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims and Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics researcher Matt Ferrari. The town halls can be viewed at liveevents.psu.edu and will be recorded and archived for later viewing. Faculty and staff and students can submit questions online.
Penn State is now accepting applications from students for the second round of funding from the university’s share of the federal Higher Education Relief Fund. The funding is available for students who incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Penn State awarded up to $1,000 to more than 25,000 students to help pay for things such as course material, food, housing and child care with the first round of funding. Students who did not receive a grant in the first round can apply at https://studentaid.psu.edu/pubThemeAppsWa/CaresApp.

Community outreach/appreciation

Since March, Rutter’s has donated $1,000 in gift cards to the YMCA of Centre County. The Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain also teamed up with Australian food company Four ‘N Twenty to donate 180 cases of their beef and cheese travellers to help stock the YMCA’s Travelin’ Table during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our company understands the importance of providing for our communities, especially during these difficult times,” said Rutter’s President and CEO Scott Hartman. “We’re fortunate to be able to help these children and have great partners willing to step up, too.” Added Mel Curtis, director of the YMCA’s Anti-Hunger Program: “This partnership with Rutter’s has made a major impact in allowing us to reach children and families facing food insecurity and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with them.”

Pennsylvania news

Schools are eligible to apply for $157.5 million in health and safety grants related to COVID-19, Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday. The funds are available through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee. School districts, career and technical centers, intermediate units and charter schools must apply by June 30 to receive a share of $150 million in federal CARES Act funding. Intermediate units can apply on behalf of nonpublic schools by July 8 for another $7.5 million. The funds can be used for programs or items to address the pandemic, such as purchasing cleaning products, training staff on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious disease, and modifying existing areas to promote social distancing.
Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday announced that $40 million from the federal CARES Act is available to support the state’s dairy industry and food security programs. The state has set aside $15 million to provide direct relief to dairy farmers and $5 million to reimburse farmers who participate in the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System by donating excess product to the state’s charitable food system. Any dairy farm that experienced losses due to discarded or displaced milk during the COVID-19 emergency disaster can apply for aid by Sept. 30. Additionally, $15 million will be allocated to the State Food Purchase Program, which provides grants for counties to purchase and distribute food to low-income residents.
Some symptoms of Lyme disease resemble those of COVID-19, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Tuesday. “Over the past several months, we have seen an increase in the number of emergency department visits related to tick bites,” Levine said in a release. “Some symptoms of Lyme disease, such as fever, chills and headache, are similar to symptoms of COVID-19. It is essential that all residents know the proper ways to protect themselves against ticks and are aware of the dangerous diseases they can carry. We want all Pennsylvanians to get outside and be healthy but do so in the safest way possible.” More than 8,500 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Pennsylvania in 2019, according to the Department of Health. Reduce the risk of a tick bite by: walking in the center of trails and avoiding areas with high grass; using a repellent with at least 20% DEET; wearing light-colored clothing; conducting full-body tick checks on yourself and your pets after being outdoors; and bathing within two hours after returning indoors.
The Pennsylvania Capitol building will reopen to the public, with modified COVID-19 prevention protocols, on Monday. The reopening follows Dauphin county’s move into the green phase on Friday.
Proprietary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that Pennsylvania is one of three states that have had a downward trajectory of COVID-19 cases for more than 42 days, Gov. Tom Wolf announced at a press conference on Wednesday. The other two states are Montana and Hawaii. “We know our decline in cases is because of our choices because more than half of states are experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases as reopening begins,” Wolf said in a release. “Many of these states are experiencing significant case increases tied to reopening too soon or too much. Pennsylvania is not. We have remained focused on balancing economic interests with public health.”