Gypsy moth spraying has begun on over 200,000 acres of state land
Updated 10:28 AM;
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Aerial spraying of woodlands against impending outbreaks of the gypsy moth has begun across Pennsylvania.
A total of 203,569 acres at 146 sites will be sprayed through an effort led by the Bureau of Forestry in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Those sites will include 9 state forests, 9 state parks, 25 state game lands and sections of the Allegheny National Forest in 19 counties.
“As the insects emerge and begin feeding, the suppression effort will begin in early May,” said Cindy Adams Dunn, DCNR secretary. “Our recent cool, wet springs had emerged as an enemy of the gypsy moth in years past, but populations have climbed in some areas to a point where aerial spraying is needed to keep this invasive pest in check and protect the trees from defoliation.”
Centre County reported 47 new COVID-19 cases over the past two days 37 on Sunday and 10 on Monday to bring its total to 16,411, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Pennsylvania added 4,381 positives over the two days 2,653 on Sunday and 1,728 on Monday for a statewide total of 1,158,486.
The county also also had 106 additional negative test results to increase its total to 68,091. Across Pennsylvania, there were 11,343 new negatives for a total of 4,413,028.
Mount Nittany Medical Center is treating 21 COVID-19 inpatients, two more than its last update on Friday. The patients range in age from 35 to 93. According to DOH’s hospital preparedness dashboard, three COVID-19 patients in Centre County are in intensive care and two are on ventilators.
Pennsylvania added 3,100 positives for a statewide total of 1,154,105.
The county also also had 73 additional negative test results to increase its total to 67,985. Across Pennsylvania, there were 9,009 new negatives for a total of 4,401,685.
Centre County’s positivity rate declined for the fourth straight week. For the week of April 23-29, Centre County’s PCR testing positivity rate was 7.0%, down from 8.9% the previous seven days, according to the updated
DOH early warning monitoring dashboard. Pennsylvania’s statewide positivity rate was 7.6%, down from 8.6% the previous week.
According to the DOH hospital preparedness dashboard, 19 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in Centre County, including four in intensive care and three on ventilators.
Centre County reported 50 new COVID-19 cases on Friday to bring its total to 16,325, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Pennsylvania added 4,607 positives for a statewide total of 1,151,005. According to the health department, one lab submitted nearly 300 test results dating back to December and another “submitted a large file of test results that were collected within the last three days.”
The county also also had 102 additional negative test results to increase its total to 67,912. Across Pennsylvania, there were 9,696 new negatives for a total of 4,392,676.
Mount Nittany Medical Center is treating 19 COVID-19 inpatients, three fewer than on Thursday. The patients range in age from 34 to 100, according to a hospital spokesperson. According to the DOH hospital preparedness dashboard, two Centre County COVID-19 patients are in intensive care and two are on ventilators.
Pennsylvania added 3,322 positives for a statewide total of 1,146,398.
The county also also had 125 additional negative test results to increase its total to 67,810. Across Pennsylvania, there were 9,892 new negatives for a total of 4,382,980.
Mount Nittany Medical Center is treating 22 COVID-19 inpatients, three fewer than on Wednesday. The patients range in age from 37 to 100, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Statewide, Pennsylvania has 2,318 COVID-19 inpatients, a decrease of 129 since Wednesday, with 522 patients in intensive care [-17] and 295 on ventilators [+16].
DOH reported no new deaths attributed to the virus among Centre County residents, keeping the county’s total at 220.
With 50 new COVID-19 deaths reported statewide on Thursday, Pennsylvania’s total is now 26,179.