Reopening updates: Centre County adds 2 COVID-19 cases, and other updates for July 12

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.

Centre County adds 2 new COVID-19 cases

Two new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Centre County on Sunday, according to the state Department of Health.

Statewide, the DOH said Sunday evening that 725 new positive cases were reported, after previously reporting 577 new cases during a noon update.

That brings the state’s overall total to 95,414 and Centre County’s total to 243 cases. Of Centre County’s cases, 226 are confirmed and 17 are probable, with 5,644 negative tests.

The state estimates that 77% of patients have recovered. There were seven new deaths statewide, bringing the total to 6,904. Eight deaths are reported in Centre County, though the coroner’s office has confirmed only six — 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 May 27.

• 16801 (State College): 54
• 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 49
• 16803 (State College): 42
• 16827 (Boalsburg): 12
• 16822 (Beech Creek): 12
• 16870 (Port Matilda): 9
• 16841 (Howard): 11
• 16875 (Spring Mills): 9
• 16686 (Tyrone): 7
• 16828 (Centre Hall): 6
• 16853 (Milesburg): 6

• 16866 (Philipsburg): 6

• 16666, 16820, 16829, 16844, 16845, 16851, 16852, 16860, 16865, 16868, 16872: 1-4 cases each (The state does not give specific numbers when there are fewer than five cases to protect patient privacy. The state does not identify exactly where a case occurred in a ZIP code that spans multiple counties.)

-By Jessica McAllister

Bald Eagle Area Athletics’ mask sale is raising money for local fire, EMS companies

When Bald Eagle Area Athletic Director Doug Dyke realized that people were in need of face masks and local fire and EMS companies were in need of funding amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he came up with an idea he thought could help with both issues.

Dyke began selling blue-and-gold masks with the BEA logo for $8 apiece to benefit the five fire and three EMS companies that serve the school district. As of early July, Dyke has sold over 2,400 masks to students, faculty, parents and community members.

Dyke attributes their popularity not only to the design, but also to the feel of the masks. They are lightweight and comfortable, especially during the summer months when people are worried about overheating.

-By Acacia Aster Broder

Coronavirus heroes: Centre County COVID-19 Community Response puts focus on neighbors helping neighbors

Richard Anderson and Emily Smith don’t consider themselves heroes — they’re just people who want their neighbors to survive the pandemic with their health, homes and pocketbooks intact.

And Centre County COVID-19 Community Response, also known as 4CR, gave them a way to help.

“There are challenges, but the response has been strong,” Anderson, 4CR outreach coordinator, said.

-By Marley Parish

With mask enforcement varied across Centre County, residents use social media to push for compliance

Last week, URBN Flavourhaus — formerly Cool Beans — in downtown Bellefonte had “optional” written next to its masking policy posted on the coffee shop’s front door.

But in a matter of hours, it was scribbled out. The sign now reads, “Please wear a mask — Required.”

Owners Troy Nihart and Lindsey Klobe did not respond to requests for comment on their masking policy, but a public Facebook group likely had some influence on the change, and is sure to hold them accountable in the future. Created and moderated by Bellefonte resident Joyce Furfaro, Stores Requiring Masks — Centre County lets residents share their experiences and observations while visiting local businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

-By Marley Parish

Coronavirus heroes: Married doctors traded Centre County practices for Geisinger COVID unit

Working in Geisinger Lewistown Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic is not easy. It’s long hours, layers of PPE and the worry of possibly contracting the virus.

For husband and wife Shane and Laura Newhouser, working in the dedicated COVID-19 unit at the hospital for two months meant a shift away from their normal routine as physicians in Centre County, with meticulous precautions aimed at keeping their family safe.

“We were really careful to make sure that we wore separate clothes. We wore scrubs at the hospital, we would change into scrubs once we got there, and then the hospital was great in that they made rooms that were available to shower in the morning before we came home,” Laura Newhouser said over a recent video call. “We kept shoes separate from what we wore in the hospital, we didn’t bring that into the house. We wiped down badges and cellphones. We made sure that we weren’t transmitting anything back and forth.”

-By Acacia Aster Broder

Coronavirus heroes: Mount Nittany Medical Center’s ‘COVID czar’ leads through pandemic

Dr. Gregory Ruff has had a long career in medicine, but it’s only over the past few months that he said he’s worried about the safety of his family because of his job.

The section chief of pulmonary medicine has been on the front lines at Mount Nittany Medical Center amid the coronavirus pandemic, directing and attending in the intensive care unit.

As the overseer of the medical approach to coronavirus, Ruff said co-workers call him the “COVID czar.” He acts as the chief triage officer for the hospital by monitoring supplies, beds, availability of equipment and medications.

-By Megan Swift

Virtual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts hosts slate of musicians

Despite the cancellation of in-person performances — or in-person anything — at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, virtual performances from favorite Arts Fest musicians can be found online through Sunday.

The schedule includes 12 local musical acts dispersed throughout the days.

This year’s format was successfully modified, but it wasn’t easy.

“Figuring out how to handle the music was one of the more difficult problems we faced,” said Rick Bryant, Arts Fest executive director, “just because of the technology involved and the skill set of the festival staff, and not working with the people we normally work with.”

- by Kevin Briggs, for the CDT

Community outreach/appreciation

Things to do

Free food options

This story was originally published July 12, 2020 at 8:12 AM.