10th COVID-19-related death reported in Centre County, as 8 new cases added
A 91-year-old woman from a local nursing home recently died due — at least in part — to COVID-19, according to the Centre County Coroner’s Office, as cases continued to climb Tuesday in Centre County.
Eight new cases were reported Tuesday by the state Department of Health, boosting the county’s total number of cases to 365 (334 confirmed, 31 probable). Countywide, according to the state DOH, there have now been 10 coronavirus-related deaths.
Chief Deputy Coroner Judy Pleskonko confirmed the county’s most recent death, reported Tuesday, which she said occurred last Thursday.
“There were a lot of other medical problems,” Pleskonko added. “(COVID-19) was a contributing factor.”
To date, the county coroner’s office has confirmed seven deaths, with ages ranging from 74 to 96. The reason for the disparity in deaths between the state DOH and the local coroner is not known, although the state DOH counts coronavirus deaths toward the individual’s place of residence.
The eight new cases come on the heels of a “sudden spike” Sunday, when a record 43 new cases were reported. The reason for the spike is not yet known, but Dr. Nirmal Joshi — chief medical officer at Mount Nittany Health — told the Centre Daily Times on Sunday that Mount Nittany is collaborating with the state DOH in investigating the spike.
Positive cases from the sudden increase remained in the county’s totals Monday and again Tuesday. Joshi expected answers in the next few days.
Statewide, an additional 1,120 cases of the coronavirus were reported by noon Tuesday — meaning there are now 109,384 total COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania. The state estimates 75% have recovered.
The largest increases came from Allegheny County (119), Philadelphia County (175) and Delaware County (118).
The breakdown of confirmed Centre County cases by ZIP code is as follows, according to the DOH:
- 16801 (State College): 79 (+15 since Saturday)
- 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 61 (+8 since Saturday)
- 16803 (State College): 51 (+7 since Saturday)
- 16875 (Spring Mills): 18 (+3 since Saturday)
- 16841 (Howard): 16 (+2 since Saturday)
- 16827 (Boalsburg): 15
- 16866 (Philipsburg): 15 (+1 since Saturday)
- 16822 (Beech Creek): 12
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 12
- 16828 (Centre Hall): 10 (+2 since Saturday)
- 16686 (Tyrone): 9 (+1 since Saturday)
- 16853 (Milesburg): 6
- 16865 (Pennsylvania Furnace): 5
- 16666, 16802, 16820, 16829, 16832, 16844, 16845, 16851, 16852, 16854, 16860, 16868, 16872, 16874, 16877, 16882: 1-4 cases each.
The state does not give specific numbers when there are fewer than five cases to protect patient privacy and does not identify exactly where a case occurred in a ZIP code that spans multiple counties.
Statewide, 24 more deaths were reported Tuesday to bring the total number to 7,146 — more than half of which (4,857) came from long-term care facilities.
Seven of Centre County’s 10 deaths have come from such nursing homes. To date, five local facilities have seen COVID-19 cases; 33 residents have been infected along with 18 employees, per the state DOH.
“(W)e must work together to stop another surge,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Tuesday.
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 1:23 PM.
