Reopening updates: Centre County adds 5 new cases of COVID-19; Pa. adds 631 without Philly data

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 5 new cases of COVID-19; Pa. adds 631 without Philly data

The state Department of Health reported five new positive cases of COVID-19 in Centre County on Wednesday. The new cases bring the county’s total to 299 since the first case was reported on March 20.

Of Centre County’s 299 cases, 274 have been confirmed and 25 are probable. There have been 7,101 negative test results.

Statewide, Pennsylvania added 631 new cases, bringing its total to 103,396. Wednesday’s new cases, however, do not include data from Philadelphia, according to the DOH, as that data has not yet been received by the department.

The state administered 148,209 tests in the past seven days, with 6,094 positives out of 21,776 results received by 10 p.m. Tuesday. The DOH is estimating a recovery rate of 75%.

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. To date, 968,081 patients have tested negative.

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.

Most hospitalizations and deaths have occurred in patients 65 and older, according to the DOH.

Centre County added another case among long-term care facility patients on Wednesday. There have now been 30 resident cases and 18 staff cases, as well as seven deaths related to COVID-19 across three Centre County long-term care facilities, according to the DOH.

Windy Hill Village in Philipsburg, Centre Crest in Bellefonte, Wynwood House State College and The Oaks at Pleasant Gap have all publicly reported cases among residents and staff.

The DOH reported 25 new deaths Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 7,063. Nine Centre County residents have died of COVID-19, according to the DOH, while the county coroner’s office has confirmed six.

COVID-19 deaths confirmed by the Centre County Coroner’s Office have been 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.

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

• 16801 (State College): 64
• 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 52
• 16803 (State College): 43
• 16827 (Boalsburg): 14

• 16841 (Howard): 14

• 16822 (Beech Creek): 12

• 16870 (Port Matilda): 12
• 16875 (Spring Mills): 12

• 16866 (Philipsburg): 13

• 16828 (Centre Hall): 8

• 16686 (Tyrone): 8

• 16853 (Milesburg): 6

• 16666, 16802, 16820, 16829, 16832, 16844, 16845, 16851, 16852, 16860, 16865, 16868, 16872, 16874, 16877: 1-4 cases each.

- by Lauren Muthler

Centre County looks to fast-track financial assistance for businesses affected by latest Pa. order

Centre County businesses affected by Pennsylvania’s new restrictions could soon receive financial assistance as the board of commissioners looks to fast-track its COVID-19 relief block grant.

In response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s targeted coronavirus mitigation efforts that took effect last week, the commissioners wanted to offer support to local bars and restaurants that would be affected by the strict regulations, which include limited dining occupancy and regulations on alcohol consumption.

On Tuesday, commissioners Michael Pipe, Mark Higgins and Steve Dershem discussed how the county plans to streamline the grant program and application process to ensure Centre County business owners have some financial support amid the coronavirus pandemic.

- by Marley Parish

State College announces move-in dates, traffic patterns for downtown apartments — not without debate

State College will partially close off several roads and alter traffic patterns in August to better allow Penn State students to move in to downtown apartments, as it does every year — but the move wasn’t without debate Monday by the borough council.

Councilman Evan Myers wanted to know what move-in plans and provisions the apartment complexes had to prevent a breakout of COVID-19. Although few specifics were offered Monday, both the borough manager and assistant borough manager emphasized that apartments requesting closures must have a COVID-19 safety plan approved by the local health board.

Plus, they added, voting “no” on such a measure — having no such road closures or traffic changes — wouldn’t make the borough any safer.

- by Josh Moyer

Penns Valley Area School District creates new online option as part of reopening plans

Penns Valley Area School District families will select between in-person classes and online learning before returning to school next month.

Over several weeks, nine committees worked to develop the Penns Valley health and safety plan for the 2020-21 school year — taking into account staff and parent concerns and guidance from health professionals. The plan was adopted at last week’s board of directors meeting and includes learning policies for each phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening plan.

“This plan was developed in consultation with health professionals, and it was also developed in consultation with subcontractors and educators,” Superintendent Brian Griffith said in a video to district families.

- by Marley Parish

Pennsylvania news

• Presidents of Penn State, Pittsburgh and Temple universities voiced support Wednesday for Gov. Tom Wolf’s mask-wearing and COVID-19 mitigation measures. “If we are to be successful in our plans to return to teaching, learning and working on our campuses this fall, each one of us must take actions now, based on science and public health practices, to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus,” Penn State President Eric Barron said. “Penn State is finalizing plans to support the critical aspects outlined by Gov. Wolf — from wearing face masks to maintaining social distancing to testing and contact tracing — in order to do our part to minimize the impact of the virus. It’s crucial that we all work together to help keep our campuses and our communities safe and healthy, and we are grateful for Gov. Wolf’s targeted and decisive actions toward this end.”

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This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 10:21 AM.