Reopening updates: Centre County adds 1 new case of COVID-19, and other updates for Aug. 20
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.
Will a winter football season happen? Likely not in Happy Valley, James Franklin says
Penn State football has now turned its attention to playing in the winter after the Big Ten postponed fall sports last week due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t guarantee that the Nittany Lions will be playing their games in Beaver Stadium.
Coach James Franklin said Wednesday morning that the team could have to play its games elsewhere to make the winter or early spring work.
“We’re at a point right now that we have to do everything we possibly can to save the 2020 season,” Franklin said on a video conference with the media. “And do it in a way that’s not going to impact — or have the least amount of impact on — the ‘21 season.”
- by Jon Sauber
GOP bill on school sports clears state House committee
Republican-sponsored legislation that would give Pennsylvania school districts the final say over whether to hold sports and other activities during the pandemic cleared a House committee Thursday, one day before the governing body for interscholastic sports was to decide the fate of the fall season.
With dozens of parents, students and coaches staging a “Let Our Kids Play in PA” rally on the steps of the Capitol in Harrisburg, the House Education Committee passed a bill that would give “exclusive authority” to public and private schools to make decisions on sports, and require them to develop safety protocols.
Majority Republicans in the Legislature introduced the legislation after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf issued a “strong recommendation” that all youth athletics be canceled until 2021 to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Wolf and his administration have repeatedly said the decision on whether to hold fall sports rests with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and individual school boards.
- The Associated Press
Centre County adds 1 new case of COVID-19
Centre County has seen 407 cases of COVID-19 since March 20 after one new cases was reported Thursday. Of the total, 363 are confirmed and 44 are probable. There have been 11,242 negative tests.
Pennsylvania reported 791 new cases to bring the state’s total to 126,940. There have been 1.39 million negative tests statewide and an estimated 80% of patients have recovered. Allegheny County posted 100 new cases, while Philadelphia reported 109 new cases.
There have been 7,538 deaths, an increase of 15 fatalities. Eleven deaths have been reported in Centre County.
The age breakdown of patients who have tested positive is:
- 1% are 0-4
- Nearly 2% 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
“The mitigation efforts in place now are essential as the new school year approaches and we work to ensure our children can get back to learning,” Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. in a statement. “Wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and following the requirements set forth in the orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings and telework will help keep our case counts low. Together, as Pennsylvanians, we each have a part to play in working to ensure that cases of COVID-19 remain low.”
Across the state, there have been 20,522 cases in residents and 4,315 cases in employees of 905 nursing and personal care homes in 61 counties. In Centre County, there have been cases in 34 residents and 22 employees at seven long-term care facilities.
The breakdown of confirmed Centre County cases by ZIP code is as follows, according to the DOH:
- 16801 (State College): 82
- 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 66
- 16803 (State College): 52
- 16866 (Philipsburg): 22
- 16875 (Spring Mills): 20
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 20
- 16841 (Howard): 20
- 16686 (Tyrone): 19
- 16827 (Boalsburg): 16
- 16822 (Beech Creek): 12
- 16828 (Centre Hall): 12
- 16853 (Milesburg): 6
- 16666 (Osceola Mills): 6
- 16854 (Millheim): 6
- 16844 (Julian): 6
- 16865 (Pennsylvania Furnace): 5
- 16820 (Aaronsburg): 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.
The state’s dashboard shows no patients are hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Centre County.
- by Matt Hymowitz
Pitt and Drexel change plans for in-person classes
Two big universities in Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh and Drexel University, changed plans for in-person instruction this fall, as a top Pitt official on Wednesday admonished students in a stark warning about partying and ignoring social distancing.
Pitt’s decision to delay the start of in-person instruction came just a few days before it was to start Monday. Online-only classes began Wednesday and students moved into dorms last week. Now, in-person instruction is delayed until Sept. 14.
Across the state in Philadelphia, Drexel University canceled in-person instruction for undergraduates for the fall quarter, with university officials saying they changed their minds after watching the difficulties at other large universities that have brought students back to campus.
- The Associated Press
Penn State fraternity Phi Kappa Psi suspended after ‘maskless social’ amid COVID-19 pandemic
Penn State placed a downtown fraternity on interim suspension after a maskless social was hosted Tuesday in defiance of COVID-19 guidelines and regulations, the university announced Thursday morning.
The Pennsylvania Lambda chapter of Phi Kappa Psi (403 Locust Lane) was officially suspended Wednesday after photos and videos circulated on social media from a gathering the previous day that showed more than 15 individuals indoors without face coverings or social distancing. That violated the university’s policy of “no socials of any kind” and also went against a recent borough ordinance that forbid more than 10 people to gather at a residence.
- by Josh Moyer
Penn State classes haven’t yet started. But large parties already have, online videos show
A large crowd of Penn State students gathered outside of the freshman dorms Wednesday night — many without masks — to dance, twerk and party amid the COVID-19 pandemic, enraging community members and concerning plenty of other students, according to videos circulating on social media.
Based on those social media posts, the East Halls gathering appeared to last about an hour before being shut down. Videos purport to show the gathering was stopped around 11 p.m., although university police told CBS Philadelphia it was ended around 9:30 p.m.
It’s not yet known whether there were two separate gatherings, or the reason for the time disparity. Reached by phone Thursday morning, a university police officer declined to comment and forwarded the inquiry to a police spokesperson, who did not answer her phone or immediately return a request for comment.
- by Josh Moyer
Could Mount Nittany reach capacity in the fall over COVID-19? Here’s what the hospital said
Dr. Nirmal Joshi, Mount Nittany Health’s chief medical officer, understands the community’s concern over his hospital’s capacity, especially given the influx of Penn State students — but he tried to allay those fears in a recent interview, saying Centre County’s lone hospital is “well-equipped” to battle COVID-19 in the fall.
For Mount Nittany Medical Center to get to the point where it’s overwhelmed, he said, the process would be gradual enough that alarm bells would be sounded well before it reached a doomsday scenario.
“I don’t think we will be restricted by resources in a way that we don’t have ventilators or we don’t have an ICU,” Joshi told the Centre Daily Times. “There will be a lot happening around us, as opposed to within us.”
- by Josh Moyer
What to know about Patton Township’s masking ordinance
Update: The Patton Township Board of Supervisors passed the ordinance unanimously on Wednesday. However, the fine was lowered to $100.
Those ignoring masking and social distancing guidelines could face steep fines as the Patton Township Board of Supervisors considers a temporary ordinance that would enforce health and safety restrictions within the community.
Much like the ordinance recently passed by the State College Borough Council, this would require a mask when in public, forbid long lines and cap gatherings in residences at 10 people. Those not following the ordinance could face a $300 fine from township police, health officials or other enforcement officers.
- by Marley Parish
Group hammock in Boalsburg aims to bring community together safely during pandemic
A local project is providing a safe way for community members to gather, relax and socialize during the COVID-19 pandemic. Called the Communitree, it’s a group hammock that can hold up to 10 people, all while maintaining social distancing.
Mariele Schechter,of State College, came up with the idea for the project.
“The goal of the project is to encourage our community to quite literally hang out with people who may be different from them,” Schechter said. “It’s an attempt to have people embrace diversity and start valuable conversations. I hope it gives people the chance to meet.”
- by Stefanie Kempton
Penn State football coach James Franklin still frustrated, out of answers after Big Ten decision
It’s been a little over a week after the Big Ten postponed the fall 2020 college football season, and Penn State head coach James Franklin is in the same position he was in on the day of the Aug. 11 announcement.
The seventh-year head coach — who describes one of his responsibilities being “to set the vision, set the plan and then drive everybody toward that vision and plan” — feels as if he lacks the information needed to do his job effectively. He doesn’t have the answers to questions his players, players’ parents and recruits are asking.
- by Parth Upadhyaya
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren explains decision to postpone fall sports in open letter
After criticism from coaches, players and players’ parents, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren released an open letter Wednesday evening to offer more details on the conference’s decision to postpone the 2020-21 fall sports season.
Warren ended any hope some had of the conference changing its mind and playing football this fall. He also confirmed that there was a formal vote taken on the proposal, just two days after Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour said it was “unclear” to her whether there was a vote.
“The vote by the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) was overwhelmingly in support of postponing fall sports and will not be revisited,” the letter read.
- by Parth Upadhyaya
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.
- by Josh Moyer
American Airlines will drop flights to 15 cities in October
American Airlines will drop flights to 15 smaller U.S. cities in October when a federal requirement to serve those communities ends.
The airline blamed low demand during the coronavirus pandemic, which has triggered a massive slump in air travel. Airlines and their labor unions are seeking billions in taxpayer relief.
American said its schedule covering Oct. 7 through Nov. 3 will drop flights to cities including Sioux City, Iowa; New Haven, Connecticut; and Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
- The Associated Press
Campus check-in
- College athletes who play fall sports, including football, will be given a free year of eligibility no matter how much they compete over the next 10 months if an NCAA recommendation is approved later this week.
Auburn will limit attendance at Jordan-Hare Stadium to about 20% of capacity at the start of the football season.
Army and Brigham Young have agreed to a home-and-home football series, with the first game between the two independents slated for Sept. 19 at Michie Stadium as both schools piece together new schedules.
- Six UConn football players have tested positive for the new coronavirus, leading the school to suspend all team activities on Thursday.
- West Virginia’s season opener against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 12. will be held without fans because of the pandemic.
North Carolina State announced on Thursday it will move all undergraduate classes online starting on Monday. The announcement comes just one day after the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill halted physical instruction on its campus. NC State says it’s still “progressing with the expectation to compete” in fall sports as the school goes to online-only courses for undergraduates.
University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod is seeking permission to obtain a $20 million, short-term line of credit in case the coronavirus pandemic significantly modifies the 2020 football and basketball seasons.
Notre Dame announced five football players have tested positive in two rounds of coronavirus testing this week.
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This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 9:43 AM.