Reopening updates: Centre County adds 4 new cases of COVID-19, and other updates for Aug. 12
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.
State College’s Welch Pool just had its season extended. Here’s how to take advantage
State College’s pool season got off to late start this year — so now the season is getting a surprise extension.
State College’s William J. Welch Community Pool will continue to operate until Sept. 27, about three weeks later than usual, to make up for the belated opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an announcement Wednesday by Centre Region Parks & Recreation (CRPR). The Park Forest Community Pool will still close down after Sept. 7.
“All summer we’ve been trying to determine whether we have the capability of opening the pools longer so the community has a good place to swim and a safe place to go for the recreational opportunity,” said Todd Roth, the CRPR aquatics supervisor.
- by Josh Moyer
PIAA wants meeting about ‘possible options’ for sports
Pennsylvania school sports’ governing body has told Gov. Tom Wolf it wants to talk with his aides about “possible options for fall sports” among its member schools.
The letter from Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association executive director Robert Lombardi provided to The Associated Press on Wednesday argued that school-sanctioned sports are in a better position than recreational leagues to ensure compliance with pandemic safety measures.
- The Associated Press
Penn State athletics reports no new positive COVID-19 results out of 94 tests
Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics released its fourth round of COVID-19 test results with zero new positives out of 94 new results, while three tests are pending as of Friday.
The Nittany Lions have had eight total positives out of 560 tests through its first four rounds of testing. They began testing student-athletes upon their return to campus in early June and released the first round of results on July 1.
- by Jon Sauber
Centre County adds 4 new cases of COVID-19
Centre County added four cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Of that total, 338 are confirmed and 39 are probable. The county has reported 377 cases since the first one March 20. There are have been 9,903 negative tests.
Pennsylvania reported 121,130 cases, including 849 new positives. Statewide, there have been 1.27 million negative tests. The state estimates 78% of patients have recovered.
Across the state, there have been 7,385 deaths including 33 new fatalities reported Wednesday. The Department of Health lists 10 deaths in Centre County.
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
Two of Centre County’s new cases were reported among employees of nursing and personal care homes. DOH lists 33 cases among residents and 21 among employees at five facilities. Eight of the county’s 10 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities. Across the state, there are 20,119 cases in residents and 4,186 cases among employees, for a total of 24,305 at 887 facilities. Nursing or personal care home residents have accounted for 5,012 of the state’s total deaths.
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): 64 (1 new case)
- 16803 (State College): 50
- 16875 (Spring Mills): 20
- 16841 (Howard): 17
- 16866 (Philipsburg): 17 (1 new case)
16870 (Port Matilda): 16 (1 new case)
- 16827 (Boalsburg): 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.
No patients are hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Centre County, according to the state.
- by Matt Hymowitz
Big Ten postpones college football season, but leaves plenty of questions unanswered
The Big Ten’s announcement Tuesday afternoon that it is postponing its 2020-21 fall sports season officially cancels fall college football for the conference. Though the league will attempt to play in the spring, there are plenty of questions that will need to be answered before then.
In an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” Tuesday morning, Penn State head coach James Franklin touched on a few uncertainties that come with not playing college football in the fall. Franklin spoke out against the idea of the Big Ten canceling the fall college football season because of the lack of clarity surrounding any alternative plan.
The seventh-year head coach said he had virtual meetings with his players and his players’ parents Monday night, but he didn’t have the answers to many of their questions about player scholarships and eligibility.
- by Parth Upadhyaya
‘It’s more than just playing a game.’ Local politicians raise concerns about lack of fall sports
It’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
Community outreach/appreciation
Recreation
Campus check-in
- Baylor coach Dave Aranda could see a weight being lifted off the shoulders of his players during a meeting Tuesday night, when word began to filter out that the Big 12 Conference would attempt to play football this fall.
Students moving back to campus at the University of Missouri this week are being asked to avoid back-to-school parties and crowded bars and restaurants to help prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
The Big South Conference has decided to delay its fall sports seasons with the hopes of playing in the spring. But it will allow football-playing members to schedule up to four nonconference games in the fall at their own discretion.
The Division III New Jersey Athletic Conference has decided to delay the start of conference play in basketball until Jan. 20 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Division II Gulf South Conference is postponing competition in football, basketball, soccer and volleyball until at least Jan. 1.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has spoken with Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and LSU head coach Ed Orgeron about moving forward with the football season.
Things to do
Free food options
This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 10:25 AM.