Reopening updates: Centre County adds 13 cases of COVID-19, and other updates for Sept. 7
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date coronavirus news during the Labor Day weekend. Check back for updates.
Centre County adds 13 cases of COVID-19
Centre County reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, according to the state Department of Health, bringing its total to 674 since March 20. Of those cases, 627 are confirmed, and 47 probable.
Statewide, there were 547 new cases, bringing Pennsylvania’s total to 139,863. There have been 1,608,378 negative tests, and the state estimates 82% of patients have recovered.
There were 20 new COVID-19 related deaths reported in Pennsylvania on Monday, bringing the total to 7,780. There have been 11 deaths in Centre County, according to the DOH.
The breakdown of cases by Centre County ZIP code is as follows, according to the DOH:
- 16801 (State College): 241 confirmed (6 new cases), 18 probable
- 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 74, 6 probable
- 16803 (State College): 64 (1 new case), 6 probable
- 16802 (University Park): 61 (3 new cases), 0 probable
- 16686 (Tyrone): 30, 0 probable
- 16866 (Philipsburg): 26, 1-4 probable
- 16875 (Spring Mills): 23, 0 probable
- 16841 (Howard): 23, 1-4 probable
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 21, 1-4 probable
- 16827 (Boalsburg): 17, 0 probable
- 16822 (Beech Creek): 12, 0 probable
- 16828 (Centre Hall): 13, 1-4 probable
- 16666 (Osceola Mills): 8, 1-4 probable
- 16851 (Lemont): 7, 0 probable
- 16853 (Milesburg): 7, 0 probable
- 16844 (Julian): 6, 0 probable
- 16854 (Millheim): 6, 1-4 probable
- 16877 (Warriors Mark): 5, 0 probable
- 16820 (Aaronsburg): 5, 1-4 probable
- 16865 (Pennsylvania Furnace): 5, 0 probable
- 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.
There is one patient hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Centre County, according to the state’s dashboard.
- by Lauren Muthler
Centre County Amish-run business responds to COVID-19 with move into online retail
Many Centre County businesses have adjusted their focuses to better meet community and customer demands during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Amish cheese producer Goot Essa, in Howard, this included a bold step into the world of online retail.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Goot Essa, founded in 2001, shipped its gourmet cheeses to approximately 150 restaurants along the East Coast, 150 wineries and 50 gourmet foods shops. However, when the restaurant and winery business slowed in early March, Goot Essa founder John Esh Jr. said the effect was almost immediate.
“It was like someone hit a switch and things changed rapidly. Restaurants were forced to shut down. Wineries were forced to shut down,” he said. Within a few weeks, he and his family knew they needed to adapt and pivot their business focus. “At that point, we were like, OK, let’s come up with a plan that will keep the business afloat, thinking that, by August, surely things would be back to normal.”
- by Holly Riddle for the CDT
‘It’s about the experience.’ No fall football means lost ‘family’ time for Penn State’s ‘Big Uglies’
Most fall weekends you can find the Duda brothers with their families.
On Friday, it’s a trip to Mom’s to spend time with her and other relatives. They have dinner and catch up about what’s going on in each of their lives.
On Saturday, the family meetup grows. They hang out with friends at tailgates in preparation for the Penn State football team to take the field. But eventually, it’s no longer three men visiting their family and friends in their hometown of State College.
- by Jon Sauber
Community outreach
Things to do
This story was originally published September 7, 2020 at 10:50 AM.