Reopening updates: Centre County adds 8 cases of COVID-19, and other updates for July 28
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.
Bars, restaurants challenge virus restrictions
Pennsylvania bar and restaurant owners said Tuesday they have been unfairly blamed for rising virus case numbers, challenging the Wolf administration to provide evidence and blasting the Democratic governor anew over pandemic restrictions they say will drive many of them out of business.
Wolf cited rising infection rates in some hot spots when he imposed a new round of restrictions on bars and restaurants two weeks ago. Occupancy was reduced from 50% to 25% capacity, and alcohol can only be served with meals.
Riki Tanaka, who owns three restaurants in lightly impacted McKean County, in the rural northwest, told a state House panel it makes no sense and “flat out isn’t fair” to lump eateries in his region with those in virus hot spots like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
- The Associated Press
Health secretary hits back after transphobic attacks
Pennsylvania’s health secretary hit back Tuesday against the “perpetuators and the perpetrators” of transphobic attacks against her, saying they hurt the state’s LGBTQ residents and must come to an end.
Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman who is leading the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, started off her daily briefing by addressing the constant stream of mockery and abuse directed toward her on social media and elsewhere.
- The Associated Press
Bellefonte adds ‘hybrid’ option to fall reopening plan, updates face coverings requirement
After hearing community feedback and additional state guidance, the Bellefonte Area School District updated its preliminary fall reopening plan to include a third learning option and additional health guidelines.
Last week, the district announced that students will have the opportunity to learn remotely twice a week and attend in-person classes the other three days of instruction. This “hybrid” option aims to limit the number of students in school facilities and make compliance with social distancing easier, Marion-Walker Elementary principal and pandemic coordinator Karen Krisch wrote in a letter to families.
- by Marley Parish
Centre County reports 8 new COVID-19 cases, 1 new death
A 91-year-old woman from a local nursing home recently died due — at least in part — to COVID-19, according to the Centre County Coroner’s Office, as cases continued to climb Tuesday in Centre County.
Eight new cases were reported Tuesday by the state Department of Health, boosting the county’s total number of cases to 365 (334 confirmed, 31 probable). Countywide, according to the state DOH, there have now been 10 coronavirus-related deaths.
Chief Deputy Coroner Judy Pleskonko confirmed the county’s most recent death, reported Tuesday, which she said occurred last Thursday.
-by Josh Moyer
Penn State reinforces IFC ban on social activities, calls on ‘true commitment’ to fight COVID-19
Two weeks after Greek-life social activities were indefinitely banned by the Penn State Interfraternity Council, the university’s vice president of student affairs reinforced the ban by saying no socials would be approved until it’s deemed safe.
In an open letter published Friday to fraternities and sororities, university official Damon Sims called for “true commitment” to public health demands in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The parties you may be accustomed to simply can’t happen,” he wrote, “at least not in the early stages of our return, as we work to minimize the virus and keep it at bay.”
Any group gatherings, even those that don’t formally meet the definition of a “social,” he wrote, create undue risk.
- by Josh Moyer
Penn State, community organizations join forces to prepare for return of students
Publicly available details about Penn State’s COVID-19 testing plan remain sparse, though the university and five other community organizations pledged Monday that any plan would be a collaborative one.
An 11-person committee is working to develop plans for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, quarantine or isolation, enforcement and compliance, and communication, according to a news release.
The group includes representatives from Penn State, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, State College government, Centre County government, the Downtown State College Improvement District and Mount Nittany Health.
- by Bret Pallotto
Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics issues across-the-department pay cuts; sources say by 5-10%
Salary reductions have been made across Penn State’s athletic department in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university confirmed Monday, while three sources with first-hand knowledge of the issue told the Centre Daily Times that most employees were forced to take between a 5% and 10% pay cut.
When asked about the specifics of the reductions, the athletic department largely declined to answer. Instead, it issued a written statement that simply confirmed the pay cuts and the reasoning behind them. It did not dispute the CDT’s reported figures.
- by Josh Moyer
Philadelphia students to start year online under new plan
The School District of Philadelphia is switching gears to keep all public school students in online classes after a previous plan to return students to class two days a week drew fears and criticism from parents, teachers and administrators.
- The Associated Press
Pennsylvania school leaders to state: We need more help
Pennsylvania’s existing reopening guidance for schools is too vague, and superintendents and school boards need more specifics from the state Department of Health about how to do it safely, a superintendents group said Monday following a call with Wolf administration officials.
The superintendents asked for more concrete recommendations from the administration of Gov. Tom Wolf as they make decisions on how, and whether, to welcome students back to the classroom this fall, including what to do if a teacher or student tests positive for the coronavirus.
“No tools have been given to school districts. Guidelines are best practices and suggestions and ideas. They are not specific recommendations,” said Mark DiRocco, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.
- The Associated Press
Campus check-in
Austin’s public health authority said the city was “caught a little off guard” by the recent announcement by Texas that the school planned to allow 50% stadium capacity at Longhorns football games this fall.
The NCAA is allowing all major college football teams to begin their seasons as early as Aug. 29. The association confirmed that the football oversight committee had requested a blanket waiver to permit any school to push up the start of its season to the so-called Week Zero.
- The Summit League is pushing back the start of fall sports to Sept. 23 due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has moved most fall sports until the spring, including football. The MIAC joined the majority of its NCAA Division III peers, postponing competition in cross country, football, soccer and volleyball.
Iowa has paused its men’s basketball workouts for 14 days after two players tested positive for COVID-19, the school announced Tuesday.
Ohio State will limit home crowds to about 20,000 and prohibit tailgating if the football season is played this fall. Fans inside Ohio Stadium will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing to help stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ball State has filled one of three open dates on its football schedule by announcing plans to open the season Sept. 12 at Iowa State of the Big 12. The game replaces a previously scheduled date for the Cardinals at Michigan and the annual rivalry game at Iowa for the Cyclones. Both games were wiped out when Big Ten officials said they would play a conference-only schedule.
The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced the suspension of all fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic.
- Michigan State says 16 of 122 athletes tested positive for the new coronavirus during the week of July 20-24 and four athletic department staff members tested positive from July 18-24.
North Carolina will have fewer fans in its home football stadium this fall if games are played. The school released an open letter Monday that says officials “continue to plan for football to be played this season” but that reducing the number of fans inside Kenan Stadium will be a “necessity.”
The Great Lakes Valley Conference is the sixth NCAA Division II league to suspend its football season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has decided to cancel fall sports competition due to continuing health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NCAA has reduced the minimum number of contests required of Division I fall sports teams, excluding football, by 50% this season. The decision by the Division I Council coordination committee to grant a blanket waiver for any school that needs it affects men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, men’s water polo and women’s volleyball teams.
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 28, 2020 at 9:46 AM.