LH COVID-19 Rates Lower, Restrictions Still in Place
By Scott Johnson
LOCK HAVEN – City Council’s meeting Monday night, held virtually with all council members present, lasted less than 20 minutes and gave the public an update on the current COVID-19 incidence rate in the city.
City Manager Greg Wilson reported the city’s 14-day COVID-19 incident rate is now below 100 per 100,000 people. Specifically, he said, the rate on Monday was 53.
“It had been teetering in the 90s for the three days before that. Which is good news,” Wilson said. “It has been two weeks since Lock Haven University began testing at their facility as well.”
He added he emailed LHU officials Monday to discuss their testing and to get a complete count.
“All the actions by council are, in the end, designed not to overwhelm the health care system,” Wilson said, noting there are currently 14 available ICU beds in Centre County and six in Lycoming County.
He added there have been 474 positive COVID-19 test results in Centre County and 61 Lycoming County the last seven days.
“The more that individuals do to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the better it will be for those who become the most ill from this illness,” Wilson said. “We will continue to watch the 14-day incidents. If there are less than 50, then outdoor music can continue in the downtown and the city ball fields will be opened.”
Last week, council voted 6-1 to officially enact an emergency declaration issued by Mayor Joel Long on Sept. 23, which closed all public ball fields and city-owned parks, a moratorium on all city-owned parks and public properties for gatherings and events, eliminating the performance stage at the pedestrian mall and no outdoor entertainment is to take place in the open-street area of the pedestrian mall.
Wilson last week recommended to council the city continue the restrictions until the COVID-19 incident rate is lower than 50 per 100,000 over 14 days, which previous passed resolutions adhered to. Wilson added the restrictions will be tiered based on the 14-day incident rate.
In a related note, Councilman Bill Mincer congratulated city staff for the improvements to Hammermill Park and Jack Bailey Playground. In other news from Monday night, Wilson reported a notice of a change to Comcast’s channels and packages. Those changes have also been mailed out to customers, he said.
Council also received information that the Keystone Central School District plans to auction the Dickey Elementary site in March of next year. “It is sad news, but necessary, I guess,” Long said.”
Council also readopted three city policies concerning code of conduct, prohibiting the use of excessive force during public protests and a drug-free workplace. Wilson said these actions were necessary to meet funding requirements from federal government for Community Development Block Grant and Federal Aviation Administration funding, and the commonwealth’s Transportation Alternative grant for the upcoming East Church Street Beautification project.
