Reopening updates: Centre County adds 1 COVID-19 case, and other updates for June 26

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.

State College announced that free borough parking is coming to an end. Here’s what you should know

State College’s free parking at garages, lots and meters is finally coming to an end.

The borough, which made such parking free in March in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Friday that normal parking operations will once again resume Aug. 3. That means on-street parking and the garages on Beaver Avenue, Fraser Street and Pugh Street will all resume charging at that time.

The move was long expected, especially with Penn State students set to officially arrive for the fall semester Aug. 21.

- by Josh Moyer

Health secretary defends pandemic response in nursing homes

Pennsylvania’s health secretary on Friday defended her agency’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak inside the nursing homes and personal care facilities that account for almost 70% of the state’s nearly 6,600 fatalities.

Criticism from Republicans has been focused on the state’s policy that sent recovering patients back to nursing homes after being treated in hospitals. The policy was described as “deadly” in a letter sent Thursday to the state’s attorney general, signed by most of Pennsylvania’s Republican members of Congress.

Levine’s agency has said it was following a March directive from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Center for Medicare Services that nursing homes “should admit any individuals that they would normally admit to their facility, including individuals from hospitals where a case of COVID-19 was/is present.”

The practice appears to have been routine across states, and no nursing home has stepped forward to say that it was forced to take a COVID-19 patient against its wishes.

Those patients have not been the main source of COVID-19 infections inside the facilities, Levine said — she thinks a more likely culprit is the homes’ own employees.

- The Associated Press

Centre County adds 1 COVID-19 case

Centre County added one new case of COVID-19, the state Department of Health reported Friday, to bring the total to 198 since March 20. Fourteen of the county’s cases are probable, while 184 are confirmed, according to DOH.

There were 600 new positive cases in Pennsylvania, bringing the state’s total to 84,370. Friday’s case increase is the highest since June 12. The state estimates 78% of patients have recovered.

Statewide, there were 22 new deaths, bringing the total to 6,579. There have been six deaths in Centre County.

In Centre County, here’s the breakdown by ZIP code (those without cases are not listed):

• 16823 (Bellefonte, Milesburg and Pleasant Gap): 42
• 16801 (State College): 41

• 16803 (State College): 39

• 16827 (Boalsburg): 12

• 16870 (Port Matilda): 9

• 16822 (Beech Creek): 8

• 16686 (Tyrone): 7
• 16841 (Howard): 6
  
  
• 16666, 16820, 16828, 16829, 16844, 16845, 16852, 16860, 16865, 16866, 16872, 16875: 1-4 cases each (The state does not give specific numbers when there are fewer than five cases to protect patient privacy.)

“Each of us has a responsibility to continue to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently,” Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said in a statement. “Together we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our health care system.”

The highest percentage of positive COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania is in patients ages 25 to 49 (37%), according to DOH. The department has a list of symptoms and a map of testing sites on its website.

- by Matt Hymowitz

Centre Hall kicks off its townwide yard sale

Hundreds of people gathered in Centre Hall on Friday for the community’s annual townwide yard sale.

The sale, which lasts through Saturday, is put on each year by community residents, independent of any oversight by the borough or surrounding townships.

Anyone who attends, either to buy, sell or patronize the food trucks, is asked by yard sale organizers on the event’s Facebook page to abide by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state COVID-19 guidelines. Those guidelines include wearing masks and gloves, and keeping 6 feet of distance between others. Bringing hand sanitizer is also encouraged.

More information, including a map of the sale sites, food and bathroom locations, can be found on the event’s Facebook page.

- CDT staff reports

Pennsylvania officials eye areas where COVID-19 cases rising

Pennsylvania health officials are looking closely at areas where COVID-19 infection rates and deaths are ticking back up, threatening to turn back progress against the pandemic, the state’s health secretary said Friday.

“We are doing quote-unquote a deep dive into all of the counties that have had increases,” Dr. Rachel Levine said, warning that “community spread” is occurring in some parts of the state.

The rise may be attributable to the gradual reopening that has been taking place in Pennsylvania, as well as more extensive testing, Levine said.

Meanwhile, Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration will allow Lebanon County, the 67th and final county, to move from the yellow phase to the less-restrictive green phase in one week, Levine said.

- The Associated Press

Centre County organizations ‘rising to the challenge’ of preparing for visitors get financial boost

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Centre County attractions to get creative when planning for the upcoming year, and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau had to follow suit with its first round of tourism grants.

In a socially distanced news conference Thursday, the HVAB and county board of commissioners announced some recipients of the 2020-21 Tourism Grant, which is funded by the Centre County lodging tax. Due to the pandemic’s financial toll on lodging tax revenues, grant awards will be announced in two rounds this year.

After receiving 61 requests from 56 applicants — the highest number of applicants since the grant’s creation — 44 organizations were awarded $387,300 to use for projects or advertising to help draw visitors to the area.

- by Marley Parish

Pennsylvania news

• The state Department of Transportation on Thursday announced another extension on expiration dates for driver’s licenses, photo ID cards and learner’s permits in response to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Licenses, ID cards and permits scheduled to expire from March 16 through July 31 have been extended until July 31. This extension also applies to camera cards. Vehicle registrations, safety and emissions inspections, and parking placards for those with disabilities that were previously extended until June 30 will not be extended again.
• Gov. Tom Wolf issued a reminder Friday that masks are required when entering businesses in the state. Businesses received guidance this week on the issue. The state says all workers and customers must wear a mask, unless they have a medical reason or are younger than 2. Workers or customers who try to enter a business without a mask should be asked to leave and return with one (a fabric mask is acceptable). Businesses are encouraged to find masks and other protective equipment for their workers and to use an online directory of manufacturers and suppliers if necessary. Masks should cover the nose and mouth and should not be removed while talking to someone, and fabric masks should be washed and fully dried between uses, the state said.

Campus check-in

• Tennessee’s athletic budget for 2020-21 assumes the Volunteers will have fans in the stands for football season but still includes a $10.1 million cut in overall revenues. University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd says reducing the number of fans further because of the coronavirus pandemic would have a “significant impact” on the budget. But Boyd said Friday that Tennessee is financially prepared to handle any problems.
• Virginia says its football players can begin returning to campus on July 5 if they participate in a voluntary workout period under protocols set by the school’s health system. The school says all student-athletes and staff will receive COVID-19 specific education through a variety of print and video media, utilizing CDC and NCAA resources.

Community feedback

Community outreach/appreciation

Business

Recreation

• Centre Region Parks and Recreation will make announcements about pool capacity using the Remind app. The pools, which open Saturday, will operate at 50% capacity due to COVID-19. Alerts will be sent out when the pools reach 50% capacity. The Welch pool complex will meet COVID-19 capacity at 350 people, while the Park Forest pool complex will max out at 175. Weather delays or closings will also be announced through the app. Residents can also sign up at remind.com/join/poolcap.

Things to do

Free food options

This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 9:49 AM.