Centre County adds 4 COVID-19 cases, and other updates for Aug. 7
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.
PIAA pauses fall sports, seeks further discussion with governor before final decision
The PIAA won’t be making a final decision on fall sports for at least another two weeks. The announcement comes a day after Gov. Tom Wolf strongly recommended postponing high school sports until Jan. 1, 2021.
In a statement released Friday afternoon following an emergency board of directors meeting, the PIAA — Pennsylvania’s governing body over high school sports — paused mandatory fall sports activities until Aug. 24, with a request to further discuss the issues at hand.
- by Jon Sauber
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
Local legislators respond
Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, and House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, both sent letters to the PIAA urging the group to resume sports in the fall. The PIAA is meeting Friday afternoon to discuss the issue.
Centre County adds 4 COVID-19 cases
Centre County reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, according to the state Department of Health, bringing the county’s total to 368 (329 are confirmed and 39 are probable) since March 20. There have been 9,336 negative tests.
Pennsylvania’s case count grew by 758 to 117,279. There have been 1.2 million negative tests, and the state estimates a 77% recovery rate. Patients are considered recovered after 30 days since their first positive test.
The age breakdown of positive cases is as follows:
- 1% are 0-4
- 1% are 5-12
- 3% are 13-18
- 9% are 19-24
- Nearly 38% are 25-49
- Nearly 23% are 50-64
- 24% are 65 or older
The state’s early warning monitoring system dashboard shows Centre County saw 28 fewer cases (13 vs. 41) in the most recent seven days (July 31-Aug. 6) compared to the previous seven days (July 24-30). The incidence rate per 100,000 residents dropped to 8 from 25.2. The positivity rate fell to 1.6% from 2.7%. Average daily COVID-19 specific hospitalizations fell to zero from 1.7, while emergency department visits due to COVID-like illness ticked up to 1% from 0.9%.
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): 13
- 16822 (Beech Creek): 12
- 16828 (Centre Hall): 11
- 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.
DOH said Friday there are 19,860 cases among residents and 4,122 cases among employees of nursing and personal care homes, for a total of 23,982 cases at 872 facilities.
There have been 7,297 deaths across the state, including 15 new fatalities reported Friday. There have been 10 deaths in Centre County. Statewide, 4,968 deaths have been in residents of long-term care facilities.
The state’s dashboard shows no COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in the county.
- by Matt Hymowitz
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
Community outreach/appreciation
Community feedback
Reopenings
Campus check-in
- Northwestern returned to the football field for the first time since a false positive for COVID-19 led to 37 players being quarantined and workouts being paused.
- North Carolina defensive backs D.J. Ford, Javon Terry and Bryce Watts have opted out of playing this season due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
- Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott met with representatives from the #WeAreUnited college player group, with much of the discussion focused on the conference’s health and safety protocols.
- Wyoming football has delayed the start of fall practice from Friday to next Tuesday amid plans to alter the game schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic.
- Maryland senior quarterback Josh Jackson has opted out of the upcoming football season, leaving the Terrapins with very little depth and experience at the pivotal position.
- Duke coach David Cutcliffe says long snapper Ben Wyatt and offensive tackle Jacob Rimmer have opted out of playing this season because of concerns about the coronavirus.
- The Big Sky Conference postponed its football season to the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic and called for the FCS playoffs to be moved to the second semester as well.
- The Southeastern Conference will require football players and others in direct contact with the program to be tested at least twice weekly during the season.
The Pioneer League will not play a fall football schedule, a decision that likely means there will be no FCS playoffs this season.
- Clemson starting defensive end Xavier Thomas has been medically shut down since March because of several illnesses, including COVID-19.
- Louisville has dismissed three men’s soccer players and suspended three others as discipline for their roles in an off-campus party last weekend that resulted in 29 positive tests for COVID-19 and four sports being paused.
- All-American receiver Rondale Moore of Purdue says he will opt out of this college football season and will prepare to enter next year’s NFL draft.
- 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.
Auburn senior linebacker Chandler Wooten has decided to take a redshirt season amid fears about COVID-19.
The NCAA Division II South Atlantic Conference is postponing its fall sports schedule until the spring of 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Things to do
Free food options
This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 9:31 AM.