Reopening updates: Centre County adds 5 cases of COVID-19, and other updates for Aug. 15

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.

Centre County adds 5 new cases of COVID-19

Centre County added five new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, according to the state Department of Health, bringing its total to 391 since the first case was reported on March 20. Of those cases, 352 have been confirmed, and 39 are probable. There have been 10,414 negative tests.

Statewide, there were 850 new cases, for a total of 123,800 positives. There have been 1,319,884 negative tests, and the state estimates a 78% recovery rate.

The DOH reported 20 new COVID-19-related deaths in the state. So far, 7,465 Pennsylvanians have died of the virus. There have been 11 COVID-19 related deaths in Centre County, according to the DOH. The county coroner’s office has confirmed seven.

The age breakdown of Pennsylvanians who have tested positive is as follows:

• 1% are ages 0-4;
• 1% are ages 5-12;
• Nearly 4% are ages 13-18;
• Nearly 10% are ages 19-24;
• Nearly 38% are ages 25-49;
• Nearly 23% are ages 50-64; and
• Nearly 24% are ages 65 or older.

Most hospitalizations and deaths have occurred in patients aged 65 and older. Pennsylvania has had 20,343 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,219 cases among employees at 891 nursing and personal care homes. In Centre County, there have been 33 resident and 21 employee cases across five facilities, and eight deaths.

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

• 16801 (State College): 77 (2 new cases)
• 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 66
• 16803 (State College): 52
• 16875 (Spring Mills): 20

• 16870 (Port Matilda): 19

• 16841 (Howard): 18 (1 new case)
• 16866 (Philipsburg): 17

• 16827 (Boalsburg): 16 (1 new case)

• 16686 (Tyrone): 14 (1 new case)

• 16822 (Beech Creek): 12
  
  
• 16828 (Centre Hall): 11
• 16853 (Milesburg): 6
• 16865 (Pennsylvania Furnace): 5
• 16820 (Aaronsburg): 5
• 16854 (Millheim): 5
• 16666 (Osceola Mills): 5
• 16844 (Julian): 5
• 16802, 16804, 16829, 16832, 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 Lauren Muthler

Beyond football, here’s all the Penn State teams impacted by the Big Ten’s fall sports decision

When news broke Tuesday that the Big Ten would postpone its 2020-21 fall sports season, the loss of football dominated local and national headlines. But largely missing from the spotlight have been the Olympic sport programs also impacted by the decision.

At Penn State, that includes the reigning Big Ten champion women’s soccer team, the Mid-Atlantic Regional champion women’s cross country team, and more.

- by Parth Upadhyaya

Centre County schools make preparations to reopen this fall. Here’s what you need to know

Centre County schools are set to reopen to students for the first time since March, but learning will be anything but normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

All Pennsylvania schools are required to submit a health and safety plan, a guide for all school activities, to the state Department of Education prior to reopening. As with all school emergency plans, they must be tailored to the unique needs of each school and should be designed with help from health experts. Plans must be approved by the school governing body and posted on each district website.

Plans vary in terms of learning options — in person, remote and virtual — mask requirements, cleaning procedures and other safety practices.

- by Marley Parish

Penn State’s 2021 Thon to be held virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic

Hundreds of Penn State students will not have the opportunity to gather in-person and cap off a yearlong fundraising effort for pediatric cancer patients in 2021.

Thon’s executive committee on Friday canceled the annual 46-hour, no-sitting and no-sleeping dance marathon. Thon, credited with being the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, is planning a virtual celebration.

Students will not be able to congregate in-person in the Bryce Jordan Center because of COVID-19 mitigation efforts and health and safety concerns, the committee said.

- by Bret Pallotto

State College’s 2 movie theaters set to reopen. Here’s what you should know about safety, changes

For the past five months, Anthony Smith — the regional manager of State College’s two movie theaters — has openly wondered when the smell of buttered popcorn would again fill his lobbies while customers buzz about the new box-office hit.

He won’t have to wait much longer.

According to Smith, who oversees both College 9 and UEC 12, Centre County’s largest movie theaters will reopen Aug. 21 with new rules, limited showings — and a whole lot more cleaning supplies. Many theater properties around the U.S. plan to reopen around that time, and Smith wants to make sure his theaters are ready before studios ramp up their blockbuster movie releases by October.

“I’m itching to get back to work,” Smith said. “I would like a chance for our industry to prove that it can be safe for you to come out and enjoy a little entertainment during this crazy time. For two hours, a theater is a getaway.”

- by Josh Moyer

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This story was originally published August 15, 2020 at 10:57 AM.