Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on April 6

We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about coronavirus in Centre County. Check back for updates.

Penn State to hold virtual graduation ceremony to recognize the Class of 2020

Penn State’s Class of 2020 graduates will be recognized in a virtual commencement ceremony.

Penn State had already postponed graduation on March 18 when it suspended in-person classes for the remainder of the spring semester to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus. On Monday, the university announced how it plans to honor the class.

A graduation ceremony will take place via livestream on May 9 — recognizing all undergraduate and graduate students. Graduates, friends and families are invited to gather online as university leadership recognizes and confers their degrees.

- by Marley Parish

Centre County adds one coronavirus case as Pennsylvania approaches 13,000 total cases

One new case of the coronavirus was reported Monday in Centre County by the state Department of Health, raising the total number of cases in the county to 44.

There are 12,980 cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania as of noon Monday, an increase of 1,470 since noon Sunday. The mark is the state’s third-largest single-day increase and is the fifth consecutive day the number of new cases has increased by more than 1,000.

- by Bret Pallotto

CATA has reduced service, eliminated fares since COVID-19. It will get millions to offset losses

The Centre Area Transportation Authority will receive more than $9 million from the coronavirus stimulus bill, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said Friday.

CATA has reduced service and stopped collecting fares amid declining ridership in response to the pandemic. “Since nearly 50 percent of CATA’s revenues come from the fare box or through contracts, prior to hearing about the stimulus funds we were very concerned about our future,” CATA public relations specialist Jacqueline Sheader said.

- by Matt Hymowitz

High school athletics departments frustrated by PIAA’s lack of decision on winter, spring sports

Pennsylvania’s governing body over high school sports, the PIAA, has yet to make a final decision on the status of the state’s winter championships and spring sports season, and its lack of communication has begun to frustrate those who are directly affected.

It’s been nearly four weeks since the PIAA suspended boys’ and girls’ basketball and the Class 2A swimming and diving championships on March 12 due to growing concerns over the novel coronavirus. The start of the spring sports season was postponed a few days later after Gov. Tom Wolf announced a two-week school closure and shut down nonessential businesses, including gyms and workout facilities.

- by Jon Sauber

Penn State, local businesses team up to 3D-print and produce PPE for those in need across Pa.

As Tim Simpson watched the coronavirus pandemic spread across Pennsylvania, he couldn’t sit idly by — instead, he chose to have his Penn State undergraduate 3D-printing class design prototypes of tools to minimize contact with surfaces, including hands-free door openers, phone booth-like plastic shields and face masks.

But over the past three weeks, the project has grown into a statewide initiative to design, 3D-print, test and mass produce personal protective equipment and medical devices for emergency and health care services across the state.

- by Lilly Riddle

Penn State

• Penn State Environmental Health and Safety, in coordination with University Health Services and Human Resources, has implemented new protocols to help protect essential employees whose jobs require them to work on campus during the remote leaning period against COVID-19. Among those protocols are instructions for supervisors who are responding to reported COVID-19 cases in their work units. Penn State says it is activelt evaluating options to meet Gov. Tom Wolf’s call for universal masking while also reserving critical supplies for health care workers.

Business changes

• Taco Inc. in Pleasant Gap will be closed until further notice, according to its Facebook page.
• Way Fruit Farm in Port Matilda is still open for call-ahead or online orders only and contactless delivery or pickup.

Service changes

• In accordance with Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendations, State College police officers have been instructed to use personal protective equipment — including masks and gloves — when performing job functions with the public, the department said in a release Monday. Officers will also attempt to resolve calls which do not require immediate police contact via a phone call or through email.

Politics

• U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, continues to speak out against the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ movement of inmates during the the COVID-19 mitigation period, speaking on “Fox and Friends” Monday morning. The BOP released a Phase 5 Action Plan last week to reduce inmate movement, but Keller called for even stricter measures.

Things to do

• The State College borough is launching a #stayhomechallenge to encourage people to support those still working during COVID-19. TO participate, people can decorate their front doors, mailboxes, driveways, windows, etc. with messages of thanks to essential workers, take a photo and post on social media using the hashtag or in the comments of the borough’s original post. Three winners will be picked by Mayor Ron Filippelli and will receive gift cards to use at downtown businesses once the stay-at-home order is lifted.

• The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter is offering free virtual education programs and online support groups to help all Pennsylvania caregivers and their families. Upcoming programs include Purposeful Home Engagement during COVID -19 on Thursday and Legal and Financial Planning on April 16. For a complete list of upcoming programs and support groups or to register for a class, visit alz.org/crf.

Community outreach

Pennsylvania news

• Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin announced Saturday the creation of the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Call to Action Portal, which will mobilize manufacturers that are producing COVID-19-related products and supplies as well as those that can pivot to producing such supplies. Questions can be directed to RA-DCEDPAMCTAP@pa.gov.
• Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order Sunday providing direction for maintaining and cleaning buildings for businesses authorized to maintain in-person operations under her and the governor’s life-sustaining business orders announced March 19. The measures outlined in the order are for owners of buildings of at least 50,000 square feet used for commercial, industrial or other enterprises, including but not limited to facilities for warehousing, manufacturing, commercial offices, airports, grocery stores, universities, colleges, government, hotels and residential buildings with at least 50 units. New protocols include cleaning and disinfecting high-touch areas routinely in accordance with CDC guidelines and ensuring that there are enough employees to perform the protocols.

• Warnings were issued to 28 non-life-sustaining businesses that failed to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to close their physical locations April 3-5, according to data released by the state police Monday. Of those warnings, two were issued in Troop G, which includes Centre County. No citations have yet been issued. In total, there have been 149 warnings issued, 20 in Troop G.

This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 10:19 AM.