Reopening updates: Centre County adds 9 new cases of COVID-19, and other updates for July 20

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 9 new COVID-19 cases

An additional nine cases of COVID-19 cases were added to Centre County’s overall total on Monday, according to the state Department of Health.

That means 288 cases have been reported in the county since March 20 — 264 are confirmed and 24 are probable. According to the DOH, there have been 6,589 negative tests in the county.

Statewide, an additional 711 positives were reported Monday, bringing the number of cases in Pennsylvania to 101,738. Of those, the DOH estimates 75% have recovered.

The number of tests administered within the last seven days between July 13-19 is 153,838 with 5,613 positive cases, the DOH reports.

There are 637 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 938,175 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• 1% are ages 0-4;
• 1% are ages 5-12;
• Nearly 3% are ages 13-18;
• Nearly 9% are ages 19-24;
• 37% are ages 25-49;
• 23% are ages 50-64; and
• 25% are ages 65 or older.

There are 7,018 total deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, an increase of three new deaths since Sunday. The DOH counts nine deaths in Centre County, while the county coroner’s office has confirmed six.

Here’s the breakdown of confirmed Centre County cases by ZIP code:

• 16801 (State College): 62
• 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 51
• 16803 (State College): 42
• 16827 (Boalsburg): 14

• 16841 (Howard): 14

• 16822 (Beech Creek): 12

• 16870 (Port Matilda): 11
• 16875 (Spring Mills): 11

• 16866 (Philipsburg): 13

• 16828 (Centre Hall): 8

• 16686 (Tyrone): 8

• 16853 (Milesburg): 6

• 16666, 16820, 16829, 16832, 16844, 16845, 16851, 16852, 16860, 16865, 16868, 16872, 16874, 16877: 1-4 cases eachThe 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.

-By Jessica McAllister

Ahead of Penn State’s reopening, here’s a look at some of the COVID-19 research taking place

The countdown until Penn State students return to campus is quickly dwindling, but Penn State researchers have been working for months on new tools to better understand the spread of the novel coronavirus.

One of these tools is a simulation model of the spread of coronavirus that can be applied to different locations across Pennsylvania. It will be able to predict real-time positions of infected individuals in specific geographical areas in order to analyze possible scenarios where the virus could spread.

Another is an artificial intelligence tool that helps determine how testing sites and coronavirus resources should be distributed across Pennsylvania.

-By Megan Swift

Pennsylvania news

• Former Pennsylvania governors Ed Rendell, Mark Schweiker and Tom Ridge voiced their support on Friday for how Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration have handled the COVID-19 crisis. “All Pennsylvanians should heed the Wolf Administration’s directives to wear a mask when out of the home,” Ridge, a Republican, said. “Like all Pennsylvanians, Gov. Wolf and Secretary Levine are hoping to avoid the COVID-19 spikes impacting other states so that we can get our economy back up and running as soon as possible. Wearing a mask is a simple, selfless act all of us should support.”
• Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday urged Congress for quick action to help provide financial aid to restaurants through the bipartisan Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive Act. The bill would provide $120 billion to help independent restaurants with the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor urged Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to support the federal bill, which would provide grants to cover the difference between revenues from 2019 and projected revenues through 2020, with a maximum grant of $10 million.

Closings/cancellations

• The Snow Shoe Fall Festival Car Show set for Sept. 19 has been canceled.

Government

Reopenings

Community outreach/appreciation

Things to do

Free food options

This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 9:47 AM.