Reopening updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on Sept. 3
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date coronavirus news as Penn State and local schools reopen. Check back for updates.
PSU football doctor: 30-35% of COVID-19-positive Big Ten athletes had myocarditis
New data helps illustrate what Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren might have meant when he described “too much medical uncertainty and too many unknown health risks” as reasons for postponing the Big Ten’s 2020-21 fall sports season.
During a State College Area school board of directors meeting on Monday night, Wayne Sebastianelli — Penn State’s director of athletic medicine — made some alarming comments about the link between COVID-19 and myocarditis, particularly in Big Ten athletes. Sebastianelli said that cardiac MRI scans revealed that approximately a third of Big Ten athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 appeared to have myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that can be fatal if left unchecked.
- by Parth Upadhyaya
Federal agents search nursing home with many virus deaths
Federal agents searched two nursing homes Thursday near Pittsburgh, one of which had the worst coronavirus outbreak of any in Pennsylvania and was already being investigated by the state on suspicion of criminal neglect.
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said in a written statement that agents were at the Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County, as well as at the Mount Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
- The Associated Press
Centre County sees 2nd highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases
A day after setting a daily record for new COVID-19 cases, Centre County saw its second highest one-day increase Thursday, with 40 new cases. The county has had 578 cases (531 confirmed and 47 probable) since the first one was reported March 20. All 40 new cases are confirmed, according to state Department of Health data, and almost all are in the State College area. There have been 15,684 negative tests overall in the county.
In Pennsylvania, there were 1,160 new positive cases, which brought the state total to 136,711. There have been 1.57 million negative tests statewide. Philadelphia reported an increase of 257 cases, Allegheny County added 105 cases, and York County saw 128 new cases.
- by Matt Hymowitz
Temple classes move online after positive virus cases spike
Amid rising numbers of positive coronavirus cases, Temple University announced Thursday that the majority of classes will shift online through the end of the fall semester.
In an emailed statement attributed to the university’s president and provost, the university said they had tried in-person classes because students had overwhelmingly expressed a preference to come back to campus. But after talking to officials at the city Health Department, the university’s leadership decided to shift about 95% of classes online.
- The Associated Press
Housing advocates prep for worst-case scenario on evictions
Efforts to stave off evictions during the coronavirus pandemic at the local, state and federal level have made for a confusing situation for thousands of Philadelphia tenants struggling to pay rent.
A Pennsylvania moratorium on eviction actions expired Monday, clearing the way for nearly 1,800 evictions previously in progress to resume in a city that sees close to 20,000 annually. But an announcement late Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could put a federal hold through the end of the year on many of those evictions starting Friday.
- The Associated Press
State College students to stay home Friday as administrators monitor community COVID-19 data
State College students will have their first “snow day” of the school year on Friday as educators monitor COVID-19 data in the surrounding community.
The State College Area School District board of directors met virtually Wednesday to reevaluate closure protocols outlined in its reopening plan. After 108 new coronavirus cases were reported in district boundaries over the past week, officials had to consider making a switch to district-wide remote learning per health guidelines. With no confirmed cases among district students or staff, officials were hesitant to make the change and close facilities.
But on Friday, students will stay home as educators monitor data and consider how long the closure will last — following a 5-4 vote, with board members Daniel Duffy, Scott Fozard, David Hutchinson and Jim Leous voting against the motion.
- by Marley Parish
State College approves interim fall sports plan, with practice to begin Friday
State College sports will move forward with an interim plan for the fall. The State College Area School District school board voted early Thursday morning by a vote of 8-1 to approve the plan, which will allow all fall sports teams to practice moving forward, with limitations for football and other sports that involve contact.
The Little Lion football team will not be allowed to tackle or block person-to-person while the plan is in place.
Football players are permitted to block and tackle “while using disinfected blocking and tackling shields, sleds, pads and tackling dummies,” according to the plan. Student-athletes will not be required to wear face shields.
- by Jon Sauber
Gov. Tom Wolf eases statewide restrictions to allow fans at sporting events
When athletes start their fall seasons, stands and bleachers might not be empty — following updated guidance from Gov. Tom Wolf.
In July, Wolf and Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine issued orders for sports that did not allow spectators at sporting events and recommended that school competition and practices be delayed until Jan. 1.
- by Marley Parish
Campus check-in
- Florida will allow about 20% of its capacity at home games this season, meaning 17,000 fans will be in attendance in the Swamp.
- North Carolina athletics director Bubba Cunningham says the school is imposing salary reductions and furloughs for coaches and full-time athletics staffers due to financial losses amid the coronavirus pandemic.
- Student coronavirus cases at Ohio State jumped by nearly 400 since late last week, according to new data released by the university late Wednesday. Ohio State’s updated data dashboard showed 882 total positive cases among students from Aug. 14 through Aug. 31.
William and Mary says it will cut seven of its 23 intercollegiate sports at the end of the 2021 academic year because of budget constraints related to the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 7,000 college-age people in Missouri have tested positive for the coronavirus since classes resumed in mid-August, fueling spikes in confirmed cases in the state’s college towns, Gov. Mike Parson said Thursday.
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This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 10:16 AM.