Reopening updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on July 27

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.

With 1 new COVID-19 case added, Centre County keeps ‘sudden spike’ in overall count

While the cause of a Sunday case surge in Centre County remains unclear, no cases were removed from the overall total on Monday, according to the state Department of Health.

Centre County actually added one case, bringing its overall total to 357 since the first was reported March 20.

On Sunday, 43 additional positive cases were reported out of 174 tests, for a 24.7% positivity rate. Prior to Sunday, Centre County’s highest single-day increase was 11 new cases.

According to the state Department of Health, Centre County has 327 confirmed cases and 30 probable cases; 7,877 have tested negative.

-By Marley Parish

Bird feeder project aims to brighten the days of Centre County nursing home residents

A local project aims to bring joy to some of Centre County’s hardest hit residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative is called the “Sponsor a Window” Bird Feeder project and its goal is to brighten up the days of people living in area long-term care facilities.

Project organizer Cindy Way works part-time at Hearthside Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in State College. Her inspiration for the project came from witnessing how COVID-19 restrictions are affecting residents. Since March, long-term care facilities have been closed to visitors, among other Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state Department of Health guidelines in place to protect the vulnerable population.

“We can’t do anything,” Way said. “We can’t do evening activities and our residents aren’t going out to eat in the dining room. We used to have 30 people doing puzzles and watching movies every night and now we can’t do any of that. So, I was trying to find something that they could enjoy.”

-By Stefanie Kempton

Penn State

• A Penn State COVID-19 task force has released initial recommendations on the use of personal protective equipment in campus classrooms and laboratories. The first round of recommendations are now available on the Keep Teaching website for Penn State instructors teaching in-person and mixed-mode classes this fall. The general recommendation, based on testing, is for instructors to wear a procedure mask with sound amplification while teaching in the general classroom setting to best facilitate both in-person intelligibility and remote learning. Limiting activities that require interactions of closer than 6 feet is also recommended, and such interactions should be kept within a cumulative 10-minute window, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

• The Centre Area Transportation Authority announced its operational plan for the fall semester, which includes the suspension of the Blue and White Loops campus transit services, as well as no service on Sundays. CATA services will begin at 6 a.m. and end no later than 12:30 a.m. each day, with reduced service between 10 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. CATA will continue to operate the Red Link and Green Link campus routes, with additional service to be added to the Green Link. Penn State Transportation Services will also continue to operate its two Campus Shuttle routes, though with reduced capacity.

Municipal updates

• State College is extending its free on and off-street parking program to Aug. 17 in an effort to continue supporting downtown businesses and visitors during the pandemic, according to a Friday news release.

Things to do

• Downtown Bellefonte will hold a Friday in the ‘Fonte celebration on July 31, with two pop-up outdoor dining spaces, as well as a Sidewalk Sale. The monthly event aims to support Bellefonte’s shopping, dining, craft beverage producers and more and is held on the last Friday of each month.

Free food options

This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 7:27 AM.