Reopening updates: Centre County adds 1 new case of COVID-19, and other updates for Aug. 11
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.
‘It’s more than just playing a game.’ Local politicians raise concerns about lack of fall sports
t’s official — there will be no Penn State football season this fall.
After days of debate and conflicting reports, the Big Ten Conference decided to postpone the 2020-21 fall sports season, including all regular-season contests and Big Ten Championships and tournaments, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and concerns for player and staff safety.
This decision — along with last week’s recommendation from Gov. Tom Wolf to postpone high school and youth competitions until January — have been met with mixed reactions from Pennsylvania and Centre County officials who are concerned with the economic and social impact the postponement will have.
- by Marley Parish
‘It’s devastating.’ State College area business leaders react to no Penn State football this fall
Any hope among business owners that Penn State would welcome up to 23,275 fans to Beaver Stadium for five weekends this fall was dashed Tuesday when the Big Ten postponed the 2020 fall sports season.
The announcement, which did not rule out a potential spring schedule for fall sports, was a formality for business owners in Centre County.
The university announced Thursday that any football games this season would be played largely without fans unless Gov. Tom Wolf issued new guidance for large gatherings. No fans might as well have meant no football for area businesses.
- by Bret Pallotto
No Penn State football this fall as the Big Ten postpones the 2020 season
The verdict has finally come from the Big Ten.
After several days of tumult and conflicting reports, the conference has decided to postpone the 2020-21 fall sports season, including all regular-season contests and Big Ten Championships and tournaments, due to ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- by Jon Sauber
Big Ten, Pac-12 pull plug on fall football amid pandemic
The Big Ten and Pac-12 won’t play football this fall because of concerns about COVID-19, taking two of college football’s five power conferences out of a crumbling season amid the pandemic.
About an hour after the Big Ten’s announcement, the Pac-12 called a news conference to say its season would be postponed until the spring.
- The Associated Press
Citing a revenue decline due to COVID-19, another Nittany Mall store is set to close
The Nittany Mall is set to lose another storefront, following a closing announcement from Bradley’s Book Outlet.
Bradley’s Book Outlet, a family-owned chain, announced Monday that all of its stores will be closing, citing a decline in revenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- by Marley Parish
Pennsylvania mayors appeal to Congress for federal aid
Mayors in Pennsylvania are challenging the state’s members of Congress to help them get direct budget aid from the federal government, warning that cities of all sizes face steep deficits and deep service cuts as a result of the coronavirus’ impact on the economy.
With Washington in a stalemate over a new round of funding, mayors warned of severe consequences on services and the economy without an injection of federal aid to cover slackening tax collections. They also pointed out that they received little in trickle down from a prior round of aid to cover coronavirus costs that went to states and the most heavily populated counties.
- The Associated Press
Teen gets surgery after park guests punch him in mask dispute, Pennsylvania cops say
A teen employee was punched in the face during a confrontation about a theme park’s face mask policy, Pennsylvania cops say.
The 17-year-old was sent to a hospital with an injury to his jaw, which will require surgery, Detective Lt. Steve Forman with the Middletown Township Police Department told McClatchy News.
- McClatchy News
Centre Furnace Mansion seeking donations to help with ‘dry spell’ and allow it to reopen
Closed to the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre Furnace Mansion is experiencing an emergency of its own — a crisis that might prevent it from reopening even when state restrictions are lifted.
The Centre County Historical Society is seeking donations to fix nearly 300 feet of deteriorated water line outside of the College Township mansion that has resulted in thousands of gallons of water loss. The broken water line runs under sections of the mansion’s brick walkways that would also need to be replaced.
- by Marley Parish
Centre County adds 1 new case of COVID-19
Centre County added one new case of COVID-19 on Tuesday to bring the case total to 373 since March 20. Overall, 334 cases are confirmed and 39 are probable. There have been 9,787 negative tests.
Pennsylvania now has 120,281 cases, including 828 new positives. Statewide, there have been 1.26 million negative tests and an estimated recovery rate of 77%.
The age breakdown among patients who have tested positive is:
- 1% are 0-4
- 1% are 5-12
- Nearly 4% are 13-18
- Nearly 10% are 19-24
- Nearly 38% are 25-49
- Nearly 23% are 50-64
- Nearly 24% are 65 or older
Across the state, there have been 7,352 deaths due to COVID-19, including 35 new fatalities. The Department of Health counts 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): 50
- 16875 (Spring Mills): 20
- 16841 (Howard): 17
- 16866 (Philipsburg): 16
- 16827 (Boalsburg): 15
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 15
- 16822 (Beech Creek): 12
- 16828 (Centre Hall): 11
- 16686 (Tyrone): 11
- 16853 (Milesburg): 6
- 16865 (Pennsylvania Furnace): 5
- 16820 (Aaronsburg): 5
- 16854 (Millheim): 5
- 16666, 16802, 16804, 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.
The Health Department’s dashboard shows no patients are hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Centre County.
- by Matt Hymowitz
Downtown Bellefonte Inc. cancels biggest fundraiser of the year
Downtown Bellefonte Inc.’s biggest annual fundraiser, Bellefonte Under the Lights, has been canceled.
“After much consideration, Downtown Bellefonte Inc. has decided to cancel Under the Lights for 2020,” the organization announced on Facebook Tuesday morning. “We thank you for your continued support of this event and hope to see you in 2021 for the event.”
- by Marley Parish
Republicans aim new bills at shutdowns of schools, athletics
Republican state lawmakers in Pennsylvania say they want to give parents more power to let their children repeat a year of schooling if they feel their child didn’t get the education they needed or missed out on a year of athletics amid shutdowns during the pandemic.
Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Fulton, said Monday that his forthcoming legislation applies equally to parents motivated by education or athletics.
Currently, schools and parents make a joint decision as to when a student can repeat, Topper said. But Topper said his legislation gives that sole decision-making power to the parents.
- The Associated Press
State College yoga studio closes its doors after more than a decade in business
A downtown State College yoga studio and meditation center closed its physical location Wednesday after more than a decade in business.
Lila Yoga, 103 E. Beaver Ave., closed because owner Erica Kaufman felt she could not safely allow yogis to congregate inside her studio during a pandemic.
- by Bret Pallotto
Penn State, Pa. leaders discuss how best to support local agricultural industry amid COVID-19
With Penn State’s Ag Progress Days held virtually this year, visitors weren’t able to enjoy event staples like milkshakes and in-person tours. But leaders were able to use the virtual platform to continue conversations about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry, and how people can support their local farmers.
Over 200 participants tuned into a virtual town hall Monday, where Rick Roush, dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, and Russell Redding, state secretary of agriculture, discussed lessons learned from the pandemic and what’s needed in order to recover from the global health crisis — which has caused significant disruptions to food and agricultural markets, supply chains and workforces.
- by Marley Parish
Campus check-in
- Massachusetts is the latest school from the Football Bowl Subdivision, college football’s highest level, to cancel its fall season. UMass is an independent in football and its decision affects only that sport.
Community outreach/appreciation
Things to do
Free food options
This story was originally published August 11, 2020 at 10:00 AM.