Centre County adds 158 cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, and other updates for Sept. 28

We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date coronavirus news. Check back for updates.

Centre County adds 158 cases of COVID-19

Centre County’s case total rose to 2,551 (2,485 confirmed and 66 probable) on Monday, after 158 cases were added over the weekend, according to the state Department of Health. The county reported 70 new cases Monday and 88 new cases Sunday. There have been 25,017 negative tests.

Five patients have been hospitalized in Centre County due to COVID-19, according to the state dashboard. None is on a ventilator.

The breakdown of Centre County cases by ZIP code is as follows, according to the DOH:

• 16801 (State College): 1,590 confirmed, 27 probable
• 16802 (University Park): 374, 1-4 probable
• 16803 (State College): 164, 9 probable
• 16823 (Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap): 91, 10 probable
• 16686 (Tyrone): 36, 1-4 probable
• 16866 (Philipsburg): 28, 1-4 probable
• 16870 (Port Matilda): 28, 1-4 probable
• 16827 (Boalsburg): 27, 0 probable
• 16841 (Howard): 26, 1-4 probable
• 16875 (Spring Mills): 25, 0 probable
• 16828 (Centre Hall): 15, 1-4 probable
• 16822 (Beech Creek): 12, 0 probable
• 16853 (Milesburg): 12, 0 probable
• 16851 (Lemont): 10, 0 probable
• 16666 (Osceola Mills): 8, 1-4 probable
• 16844 (Julian): 6, 0 probable
• 16854 (Millheim): 6, 1-4 probable
• 16877 (Warriors Mark): 6, 0 probable
• 16820 (Aaronsburg): 5, 1-4 probable
• 16845 (Karthaus): 5, 0 probable
• 16865 (Pennsylvania Furnace): 5, 0 probable
• 16804, 16826, 16829, 16832, 16852, 16856, 16860, 16868, 16872, 16874, 16882: 1-4 cases each

The state does not provide 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.

Pennsylvania added 676 new cases Monday and 918 new cases Sunday to bring the state total to 156,826. There have been 1.89 million negative tests. The state reported one new death Monday and six new deaths Sunday. That raises the total to 8,107. The state continues to list 11 Centre County deaths related to COVID-19.

The age breakdown of positive cases across the state is:

• Approximately 1% are 0-4
• Nearly 2% are 5-12
• Nearly 5% are 13-18
• Approximately 13% are 19-24
• Approximately 36% are 25-49
• Nearly 22% are 50-64
• Nearly 22% are 65 or older

- by Matt Hymowitz

Flu season is just around the corner. Here’s where to get your vaccine in Centre County

Flu season is just around the corner, but now is the time to prepare.

Though seasonal influenza viruses can be detected year-round, they are most common in the fall and winter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting a flu vaccine before influenza activity begins to increase in October. It takes about two weeks after getting the vaccine for antibodies that protect against the flu to develop in the body.

The CDC estimates that 34,200 deaths and 490,600 hospitalizations were caused by the flu during the 2018-19 season. To prevent contracting influenza, experts recommend getting the vaccine and practice good hygiene. This year especially, medical experts recommend getting the vaccine to boost immunity as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the United States.

- by Marley Parish

2 new COVID-19 testing sites opened in Centre County. Here’s how to get tested

With more than 2,000 cases reported in Centre County six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, residents now have two more options for free coronavirus testing.

Two new drive-thru test sites opened Friday — at the Rite Aid at 1536 N. Atherton St. in State College and at the Nittany Mall. Each location will conduct COVID-19 testing at no charge to patients, using self-swab nasal tests.

- by Marley Parish

COVID-19 expert: Centre County in better shape than a week ago — but ‘worrisome’ trends remain

Centre County appears to be in slightly better shape than it was a week ago with the COVID-19 pandemic — but based on trends, data and projections, any celebration could still be short-lived.

Dr. David Rubin, director of PolicyLab at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, last week gave the Centre Daily Times a “bellwether” date of Oct. 1 for when the county would know whether it was trending in the right direction. But, based on precedent from colleges that started before Penn State and his COVID-19 study that touched on the impact of changing temperatures, Rubin believes he can already better project the county’s pandemic path.

- by Josh Moyer

‘This virus doesn’t care about football:’ What one expert thinks of the Big Ten’s decision to play

When the Big Ten announced Sept. 16 that it would play football this fall after initially postponing its fall sports season in mid-August, it cited the adoption of significant medical protocols as its reason for reversing course.

James Borchers, Ohio State football’s head team physician and co-chair of the Big Ten’s Return to Competition Task Force, said there are “groundbreaking steps that are now being taken to better protect the health and safety of the student-athletes and surrounding communities.”

Penn State President Eric Barron cited consistent and uniform testing, and rapid antigen and cardiac testing for athletes who test positive among reasons for flipping his vote.

But there are plenty of medical experts who still feel it is unsafe for the conference to compete this fall.

- by Parth Upadhyaya

Community outreach

Business updates

Things to do

This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 9:39 AM.