Reopening updates: Centre County adds 3 COVID-19 cases, and other updates for Aug. 6

We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date coronavirus news as Penn State and local schools prepare to reopen. Check back for updates.

PSU president voices support for State College ordinance that fines non-mask wearers, party-throwers

Penn State President Eric Barron publicly lauded a new State College ordinance that will fine those not wearing masks in the borough along with those who throw parties involving more than 10 people.

Barron initially expressed support Monday over a draft of the ordinance. But the ordinance was officially — and unanimously — passed by the council Tuesday night, with a few amendments, and Barron again reiterated his support Wednesday.

“This is a strong ordinance and I’m very pleased that borough council has taken this solid stance in support of the health of the State College and Penn State community,” Barron said in a written statement.

-by Josh Moyer

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf recommends no sports to be played until Jan. 1, 2021

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday announced recommendations from his office that sports not be played until Jan. 1, 2021.

The announcement was made during a morning press conference in response to a question about whether parents would be allowed in the stands at PIAA sports this fall.

“The guidance is that we ought to avoid any congregate settings,” he said. “And that means anything that brings people together is going to help that virus get us. We ought to do everything we can to defeat that virus. Anytime we get together, for any reason, that’s a problem because it makes it easier for that virus to spread.”

-by Jon Sauber

Centre County adds 3 COVID-19 cases

Centre County added three COVID-19 cases Thursday, according to the state Department of Health, bringing its overall total to 364 cases since March 20.

Of those, 326 are confirmed cases and 38 are probable; there have been 9,177 negative tests.

Statewide, there are 807 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 116,521 in all 67 counties. The state estimates a 76% recovery rate. Allegheny County reported an increase of 100 cases and Philadelphia reported an increase of 112 cases Thursday, according to the DOH.

In Pennsylvania, there are 1,183,730 patients who have tested negative to date. 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;
• 3% are ages 13-18;
• 9% are ages 19-24;
• Nearly 38% are ages 25-49;
• Nearly 23% are ages 50-64; and
• 24% are ages 65 or older.

There are 7,282 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 38 new deaths reported. The state has reported 10 deaths in Centre County.

The breakdown of confirmed Centre County cases by ZIP code is as follows, according to the DOH:

• 16801 (State College): 76
• 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 63
• 16803 (State College): 49
• 16875 (Spring Mills): 20
• 16841 (Howard): 16
• 16866 (Philipsburg): 16
• 16827 (Boalsburg): 15
• 16870 (Port Matilda): 12
• 16822 (Beech Creek): 12
• 16828 (Centre Hall): 9
• 16686 (Tyrone): 10
• 16853 (Milesburg): 6
• 16865 (Pennsylvania Furnace): 5

• 16820 (Aaronsburg): 5

• 16854 (Millheim): 5

• 16666, 16802, 16829, 16832, 16844, 16845, 16851, 16852, 16860, 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.

-by Jessica McAllister

Penn State fall sports — including football — to be conducted without fans, for now

Penn State football will play without fans in the stands — for now. Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour revealed the information to season ticket holders in an email Thursday morning that was also posted on the athletic department’s website.

“As of today, the current large gatherings guidance from the Governor’s Office limits capacity to 250 people for outside events and 25 people for inside events,” the letter reads. “Therefore, under the current conditions and current state orders, our fall sports events would be conducted without fans in the general seating areas of our facilities.”

The size of outside gatherings is limited in effort to mitigate the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The department is prepared to alter its plans if the capacity for outside events changes and has been in contact with Gov. Tom Wolf’s office about the potential for a change to the guidance.

-by Jon Sauber

Big Ten football players share list of requests for the season. Here’s what they want

More than 1,000 Big Ten football players have gone public with a list of requests from the Big Ten and the NCAA in order to feel safe about playing during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. College Athlete Unity — a member organization of intercollegiate athletes seeking to address injustice and affect positive change using its privilege and platforms — published the requests on The Players’ Tribune Wednesday afternoon.

The “Big Ten Unity Proposal” included several subjects with underlying proposals to meet those points: oversight and transparency; prevention and safety protocols; testing, contact tracing and related procedures; player assurances and hazard-related economic support.

- by Jon Sauber

Not wearing a mask? Hosting a small party? Under a new State College ordinance, you’ll face fines

Visitors, students and residents of State College will have to immediately take heed of a new borough law that requires mask-wearing and severely limits gathering size — or they’ll face $300 fines.

In a bid to better fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the State College Borough Council unanimously voted Tuesday to pass an ordinance that would require a mask when in public, forbid long lines and cap gatherings in residences at 10 people. Those who refuse to comply will be hit with a $300 fine by police (or other officials).

The local law officially went into effect Wednesday afternoon.

- by Josh Moyer

Community outreach/appreciation

Community feedback

Reopenings

Campus check-in

• The NCAA Board of Governors on Wednesday directed each division of the association to decide independently by Aug. 21 whether it will be able to conduct championship events safely in fall sports such as soccer, volleyball and lower levels of football during the coronavirus pandemic.

• UConn canceled its 2020-2021 football season Wednesday, becoming the first FBS program to suspend football because of the coronavirus pandemic, as other schools had taken the Huskies off their schedules and the governor was reluctant to allow UConn to travel to states with high infection rates.

• Colorado State President Joyce McConnell says she will launch an investigation into how the athletic department handled COVID-19 safety protocols amid a report that players were told not to reveal symptoms.

• Eastern Kentucky kicker Landon White has quit the football team in a social media post that accuses the FCS program of being lax in coronavirus testing and following protocols.

• The American Athletic Conference says it will keep its eight-game conference football schedule in place and allow its 11 schools to play up to four nonconference games.

• Michigan State defensive end Jacub Panasiuk says he’s redshirting this season because of concerns about COVID-19.

• Louisville has paused workouts for men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey and volleyball after 29 members of those programs tested positive for COVID-19.

• Three days after Pac-12 football players listed “unity demands” and threatened a boycott, Big Ten players have expressed their own desires in a Players’ Tribune piece.

• West Virginia safety Kerry Martin is opting out of the upcoming college football season due to health concerns.

• Ohio State opened preseason training camp Thursday with strict coronavirus protocols in place and under a cloud of uncertainty about whether the revised 10-game season will even be played at all.

• Notre Dame opens its season as an Atlantic Coast Conference football member against visiting Duke on Sept. 12 and won’t face Navy for the first time in more than nine decades as part of the ACC’s reconfigured schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

• Middle Tennessee is making up for losing three games by scheduling a very rare for football home-and-home with Troy.

• BYU will play at Navy on Labor Day night in a matchup of teams that had openers against traditional rivals canceled as Power Five leagues rearranged their schedules.

• Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau, who was second in the nation with 15.5 sacks last season, has opted out of this college football season. Rousseau is the fourth prominent player, joining Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons earlier in the day, who has decided not to play in a season filled with uncertainty because of the pandemic.

• Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will push to get the annual football game between Florida State and the University of Florida rescheduled, saying Thursday that keeping the famed rivalry going will be good for the state.

Things to do

Free food options

This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 8:10 AM.