Steep rise in COVID cases across State College Area schools prompts message from school board
COVID cases are significantly rising in State College Area schools and, in a message Wednesday to the district community, the school board is now “strongly” encouraging community members to take increased precautions, such as wearing masks while indoors.
No new requirements or mandates are being implemented in the State College Area School District, according to an email from the school board. Precautions are only encouraged inside and outside school at this point.
“Taking precautions now can help as many students as possible stay healthy and finish our school year where we know is best for them — in school,” read the message, signed by the nine-member board of directors.
According to the district’s COVID-19 dashboard, 112 new cases among students and employees were reported between May 11-17, a steep rise compared to the month before. From April 11-17, there were just 29 new cases.
Based on data compiled by The New York Times, daily cases in Pennsylvania have increased by 134% compared to the average two weeks ago. At Mount Nittany Medical Center, hospitalizations have also gradually risen this past week — from three last Wednesday to five, seven and then 12 Tuesday.
“These new developments in the pandemic are occurring at a busy time of year,” the school board message read, “and we want to ensure our school community is aware of the potential impact on our students’ experiences. Choices made now, both as individuals and as community members, could impact students’ final weeks in school.
“To ensure as many students as possible can participate in these important year-end events, we strongly encourage community members to take increased precautions.”
Centre County’s confirmed daily cases from May 11-17 stood at an average of 41, based on the state dashboard. For comparison’s sake, the county routinely saw 100-plus daily cases when the pandemic reached its peak in January but experienced fewer than 25 daily cases by the end of February.
SCASD dropped its mask mandate near the end of March. State College Borough put a stop to its masking ordinance in early March.
Around Centre County, different schools and districts have so far boasted different experiences. Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Charter School mandated masks Monday after hitting 26 COVID cases last week, compared to three cases the previous week and no cases the week before that. But, elsewhere, cases have been limited.
Philipsburg-Osceola Superintendent Gregg Paladina said Friday afternoon there were no new cases last week and just six in the district the week before. Bald Eagle Area Interim Superintendent Joseph Clapper also said over the weekend there has been no observed uptick in cases.
Matthew Ferrari, director of Penn State’s Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, said there are too many variables at play to explain why some districts might be more hard-hit than others. But Ferrari, who also serves on SCASD’s health and safety team, intimated it’s best to play things safely.
“Nobody can predict the future, but we have to make plans for what is possible and what our experience and evidence suggests is possible,” he told the CDT. “So I think very much we should be making individual and community decisions moving forward that anticipate this.”
Some of Ferrari’s examples to the CDT were echoed in the email from the SCASD school board. In that message, the board recommends wearing high-quality masks in high-traffic areas, monitoring symptoms and getting vaccinated (or boosted).
SCASD’s final day of school will be June 3, with commencement occurring later that day — or June 4/5, in case of rain.
CDT reporter Keely Doll contributed to this report
