Reopening updates: Centre County reports 5 new cases of COVID-19, and other updates for Sept. 1
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date coronavirus news as Penn State and local schools reopen. Check back for updates.
After an increase in community COVID-19 cases, State College prepares to shut down schools
One week into the academic year, State College is preparing for the possibility of switching to districtwide remote learning.
As of noon Tuesday, the state Department of Health has reported 63 COVID-19 cases within district ZIP codes in the past seven days. Though no cases have been confirmed among staff or students, the district health and safety plan requires administrators to consider closing facilities if 50-75 coronavirus cases are confirmed in district boundaries.
SCASD Superintendent Bob O’Donnell first notified families Monday of the potential change in a letter. He issued another update Tuesday, saying that while the number of cases remains within the 50-75 range, the countywide seven-day total for Tuesday (67), places the district below the range of 80-120 cases in its plan for considering a switch to districtwide remote learning.
- by Marley Parish
Wolf renews coronavirus disaster declaration in Pennsylvania
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday that he has renewed a 90-day disaster declaration, now for a second time, after he originally signed it in early March following the confirmation of the first positive cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania.
The original declaration was set to expire Tuesday, and the new declaration will last through late November, unless Wolf decides to end it.
- The Associated Press
Lock Haven University to suspend in-person classes for 2 weeks, citing COVID-19 uptick
Lock Haven University, a public university 40 miles northeast of Penn State, is pausing the semester after blaming off-campus gatherings for a significant uptick in COVID-19 cases.
The university, home to about 3,000 undergraduates, will move all of its instruction online for about a two-week period starting Wednesday. The announcement came Tuesday afternoon, after LHU saw at least 30 positive cases since Aug. 24 and watched its positive case rate soar.
During that two-week period, the dining hall will be open for grab-and-go only, the library will remain open for pick-up only, and all other campus facilities (besides the residence halls) will be closed.
- by Josh Moyer
Despite potential health risks, State High athletes make their case to play this fall
Whether there will be a competitive fall sports season for State College Area High School teams is still up in the air as district leaders consider health and safety concerns. But senior athletes made their voices heard Monday night — they want to play.
“While we completely understand the concerns for our own personal safety, we want to emphasize that as student-athletes and leaders of our teams, we have a certain amount of autonomy and responsibility regarding our own health as well,” senior Carson Franks said. “We are also more than willing to be held accountable for our actions.”
The State College board of directors met virtually in a work session Monday to discuss the proposed interim fall athletics health and safety plan, which includes strict guidelines each sport must adhere to in order to play this season.
- by Marley Parish
Penn State adds 32 COVID-19 cases since Friday, boosting total cases at University Park to 69
Penn State saw another 32 positive cases of COVID-19 since Friday among students at University Park, the university announced Tuesday.
With last week’s testing also updated, there are now 69 positive cases among University Park students since Aug. 7 — 66 of which came over the last 12 days. That’s a significant increase, especially when compared to the rest of Centre County, which boasted a biweekly average of 40 cases between May and July, among a population of roughly 120,000.
Based on data from the dashboard, Penn State saw 25 symptomatic cases out of 268 tests since Friday and seven asymptomatic cases — meaning no outward signs of infection — out of 910 tests. Seven symptomatic tests from last week are still pending results, and 220 asymptomatic tests still do not have results.
- by Josh Moyer
Trump calls on Big Ten Conference to play fall football
The Big Ten Conference, already in court and under pressure from players and parents over its decision to cancel fall football, is now hearing from President Donald Trump.
Trump tweeted Tuesday that he had spoken with Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren about reinstating the fall season.
“Had a very productive conversation with Kevin Warren, Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, about immediately starting up Big Ten football,” the tweet said. “Would be good (great!) for everyone - Players, Fans, Country. On the one yard line!”
-The Associated Press
Centre County adds 5 cases of COVID-19
Centre County reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to the state Department of Health, to bring the county’s total to 491 (444 confirmed and 47 probable). There have been 14,912 negative tests.
The county’s rate of cases per 100,000 residents is 301.6. Here’s how that rate compares to surrounding counties: MIfflin (161 cases): 348.3; Huntingdon (370 cases): 819.2; Blair (465 cases): 379.6; Clearfield (228 cases): 287.2; Clinton (137 cases): 354.2; and Union (386 cases): 861.9.
Pennsylvania added 770 new cases, which raised the state total to 134,795. There have been 1.54 million negative tests and an estimated recovery rate of 81%.
The breakdown of confirmed Centre County cases by ZIP code is as follows, according to the DOH:
- 16801 (State College): 127 (2 new cases)
- 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 69
- 16803 (State College): 57
- 16686 (Tyrone): 28
- 16866 (Philipsburg): 25
- 16875 (Spring Mills): 23
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 21
- 16841 (Howard): 20
- 16827 (Boalsburg): 16
- 16802 (University Park): 16 (1 new case)
- 16822 (Beech Creek): 12
- 16828 (Centre Hall): 12
- 16666 (Osceola Mills): 8
- 16853 (Milesburg): 7
- 16844 (Julian): 6
- 16851 (Lemont): 6
- 16854 (Millheim): 6
- 16877 (Warriors Mark): 6
- 16820 (Aaronsburg): 5
- 16865 (Pennsylvania Furnace): 5
- 16804, 16829, 16832, 16845, 16852, 16860, 16868, 16872, 16874, 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.
Statewide, there have been 7,691 deaths, including 18 new fatalities. The state continues to list 11 Centre County deaths.
The age breakdown of patients who have tested positive across Pennsylvania is:
- Approximately 1% are 0-4
- Nearly 2% are 5-12
- Nearly 4% are 13-18
- Approximately 10% are 19-24
- Nearly 38% are 25-49
- Approximately 22% are 50-64
- Approximately 23% are 65 or older
Cases continue to rise among younger people, the Health Department has said, particularly those ages 19 to 24. In the north-central region, which includes Centre County, 19- to 24-year-olds now account for almost a quarter of all cases; in April, that age group accounted for about 7% of cases in the region.
- by Matt Hymowitz
Concerned but not panicked: Making sense of Centre County’s recent rise in COVID-19 cases
Centre County has seen a significant rise in COVID-19 cases the past two weeks — 93 cases in total — that has concerned some officials while others have cautioned it’s not yet time to panic.
On the surface, the increase has been dramatic. Centre County averaged about 40 biweekly cases between May and July, before more than doubling that in this past 14-day period with the reopening of Penn State. But, officials said, looking at those numbers alone doesn’t offer a complete picture.
It doesn’t take into account Penn State testing asymptomatic cases, meaning those who show no outward signs of infection and wouldn’t have been tested in the county otherwise. And it doesn’t show that a majority of cases appear to be mild or asymptomatic, meaning little to no additional stress has been placed on Mount Nittany Medical Center.
- by Josh Moyer
Walmart testing site changes schedule
The COVID-19 testing site at the North Atherton Street Walmart parking lot in State College will be closed Wednesday and Friday. The state Department of Health said Monday that test provider Quest Diagnostics is adopting a different online scheduling tool this week.
The North Atherton Walmart site typically offers testing from 7 to 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and will resume that schedule Sept. 9. (Next Monday is Labor Day.) Tests can be scheduled at appointment.questdiagnostics.com/patient/confirmation.
COVID-19 symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, diarrhea, chills, repeating shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache. sore throat and new loss of taste or smell
- CDT staff reports
Campus check-in
- At least 3,000 college students in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus since campuses reopened last month for in-person classes, with an overwhelming number of cases coming from just three campuses, an Associated Press analysis shows.
- Wake Forest says it will open the football and fall sports season with no fans in attendance at home competitions because of the coronavirus pandemic. The school announced the decision Tuesday.
- Virginia Tech and the town of Blacksburg say tailgating will be prohibited in the fall in university- and town-owned parking areas.
Community outreach
Business updates
Things to do
This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 10:15 AM.