Reopening updates: Centre County adds 7 cases of COVID-19, while Pa. again tops 1,000

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 7 cases of COVID-19, while Pa. again tops 1,000

Pennsylvania added more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the fifth time in July on Saturday, as the state Department of Health reported 1,054 additional positives. Of those new cases, seven were reported in Centre County.

The largest case increases came from Philadelphia County (177), Allegheny County (146) and Delaware County (110).

Pennsylvania has now had 106,625 total cases of the novel coronavirus. The DOH estimates that 75% of those patients have recovered. The state reported 13 new COVID-19-related deaths on Saturday, bringing the total to 7,114.

Of the Pennsylvanians who have tested positive, the age breakdown is as follows:

• 1% are ages 0-4;

• More than 1% are ages 5-12;

• 3% are ages 13-18;

• 9% are ages 19-24;

• More than 37% are ages 25-49;

• 23% are ages 50-64; and

• 25% are ages 65 or older.

Centre County has now had 313 cases of COVID-19 since the first was reported on March 20. Of those cases, 281 have been confirmed and 32 are probable. There have been 7,623 negative test results. The DOH counts nine deaths in Centre County, while the coroner’s office has confirmed six.

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

• 16801 (State College): 64
• 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 53
• 16803 (State College): 44
• 16827 (Boalsburg): 15
• 16841 (Howard): 14
• 16875 (Spring Mills): 15
• 16866 (Philipsburg): 14
• 16822 (Beech Creek): 12
• 16870 (Port Matilda): 12
• 16828 (Centre Hall): 8
  
  
• 16686 (Tyrone): 8
• 16853 (Milesburg): 6
• 16666, 16820, 16829, 16832, 16844, 16845, 16851, 16852, 16854, 16860, 16865, 16868, 16872, 16874, 16877, 16882: 1-4 cases each.

The 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.

- Lauren Muthler

Why are some Centre County residents waiting weeks for COVID-19 test results?

Centre County residents are finding out that getting tested for COVID-19 is getting easier; the hard part is getting timely results.

Wanting to get tested for the coronavirus before visiting a loved one with cancer, Kimberly Del Bright and her husband scheduled an appointment for 12:30 p.m. July 13 at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

As of noon Thursday, they still had not received their results and had no idea when to expect them.

- by Marley Parish

Rural social clubs hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions fear it’s the community that suffers most

With new restrictions on alcohol service and restaurant and bar capacity in Pennsylvania, social clubs — sometimes the only community gathering place in rural areas — are finding Gov. Tom Wolf’s new executive order not only affects their bottom line but the community’s well-being.

In the Mountaintop area of Centre County, home to roughly 2,900 people, social clubs attached to veterans’ organizations and other community groups are the only places that serve alcohol in a bar setting. Beyond that, they function as important social gathering places for community members and as charities that support everything from local baseball leagues to food drives.

Under the new order, Pennsylvania bars and restaurants must limit indoor dining occupancy to 25%, and alcohol consumption is reserved for meals and carry-out only. Nightclubs are also prohibited from conducting operations.

“Fortunately for us, we have done well with the VFW in the last couple years, but this year it’s not making any money. We’re losing money as we go,” said Mike Guenot, post commander for the Snow Shoe VFW Post 5644.

- by Sarah Paez for the CDT

State College updates fall reopening options, extends deadline for families to decide

After hearing community concerns, the State College Area School District updated its reopening plan to include synchronous remote learning and extended deadlines for families to choose between online and in-person learning.

State College families, including those whose children attend the Delta Program, now have until Monday to select from a series of remote and in-person educational plans. The one-week extension follows a petition signed by nearly 300 parents, students, staff and alumni who voiced concern with SCASD’s initial reopening plan, which gave families the option to choose between in-person or asynchronous online learning through its virtual academy.

- by Marley Parish

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.

Community outreach/appreciation

Things to do

Free food options

This story was originally published July 25, 2020 at 11:35 AM.