Reopening updates: Centre County adds 3 cases of COVID-19, and other updates for Aug. 21
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 votes to allow fall high school sports to begin Monday
The PIAA has made its decision.
The governing body over high school sports in Pennsylvania will allow member schools to proceed with fall sports at their own discretion beginning Monday.
The decision came during a PIAA board of directors meeting Friday afternoon and came by a 25-5 vote.
“The Board agrees the decision to compete in athletics should be made locally allowing for each school entity to decide whether to proceed and which sports to sponsor,” the PIAA’s release said. “As the health and safety of students is paramount in moving forward with athletics, the Board believes that through each member schools’ adherence to their developed school and safety plans and the PIAA Return to Competition guidelines sports can continue.”
- by Jon Sauber
2 additional Centre Region municipalities adopt enforceable masking ordinances
In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, additional Centre Region municipalities have adopted masking ordinances.
Ferguson Township, a home rule charter, and College Township adopted emergency ordinances this week. Under the temporary ordinances, all residents and visitors to the townships will be required to wear a mask inside any public buildings — grocery and retail stores, service establishments and municipal buildings — and on public transportation.
Much like the legislation passed by the State College Borough and Patton Township, these ordinances are legally enforceable under the state’s emergency declaration, and will be carried out by local police. Those who are found in violation of Ferguson’s ordinance may be subject to fines. In College Township, those caught breaking guidelines could face fines between $150-300.
- by Marley Parish
Centre County adds 3 cases of COVID-19
The state Department of Health reported three additional cases of COVID-19 in Centre County on Friday, bringing the county’s total to 410 since the first case was reported on March 20. Of those cases, 365 have been confirmed and 45 are probable. There have been 11,394 negative tests.
Pennsylvania reported 693 new cases, bringing its total to 127,633. There have been 1,399,509 negative tests, and the state estimates 80% of patients have recovered.
There have been 7,558 COVID-19-related deaths in Pennsylvania, with 20 new fatalities reported Friday. Eleven of the state’s total deaths have come from Centre County, the DOH reports.
Of the Pennsylvanians who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:
- 1% are ages 0-4;
- Nearly 2% 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.
Pennsylvania has seen 20,594 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,336 cases among employees in 910 nursing or personal care facilities. In Centre County, there have been cases in 34 residents and 22 employees at seven facilities.
The state’s early warning monitoring system dashboard shows Centre County saw the same amount of cases (18) in the most recent seven days (Aug. 14-20) compared to the previous seven days (Aug. 7-13). The incidence rate per 100,000 residents remains at 11.1. The positivity rate fell to 1.2% from 1.9%. Average daily COVID-19-specific hospitalizations stayed at 0, while emergency department visits due to COVID-like illnesses ticked up to 0.8% from 0.7%.
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): 53
- 16866 (Philipsburg): 22
- 16875 (Spring Mills): 22
- 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 Lauren Muthler
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
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
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
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This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 9:33 AM.