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COVID-19

20,000 in Blair receive vaccination

HOLLIDAYSBURG — More than 20,000 Blair County residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination, county Director of Public Safety Mark Taylor told commissioners Tuesday. With vaccination clinics ongoing and more planned in the future, Taylor said he’s pleased with the county’s progress. “All in all, it’s good news on the vaccine front,” he said. Six weeks ago, Taylor reported daily complaints that he and others were fielding from county residents frustrated by the inability to secure vaccinations. At that same time, Commissioners Bruce Erb and Amy Webster were ...

Schools rethink student spacing

BOSTON — New evidence that it may be safe for schools to seat students 3 feet apart — half of the previous recommended distance — could offer a way to return more of the nation’s children to classrooms with limited space. Even as more teachers receive vaccinations against COVID-19, ...

Wolf easing restrictions in April

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf will expand more business and event capacity limits and lift a raft of long-standing coronavirus restrictions on bar service starting on Easter Sunday. The move will give some relief to one of the hardest-hit business sectors, his administration said Monday. The announcement relaxing capacity limits brings hope to local business owners and is the second time Wolf has taken such a step this month as spring sports seasons start up, virus-related hospitalizations continue to decline and the number of people getting vaccinated rises each day. “It’s time ...

Vaccines continue for AASD staff

Altoona Area School Board members discussed the district’s ongoing efforts to support students as the year comes to an end amid the pandemic. The board’s regular meeting Monday came the same day students in grades K-12 returned to full time, in-person learning after a few weeks of hybrid learning. Despite the return, students will have an at-home, asynchronous learning day Thursday “to ensure continuity of instruction as (AASD) teachers and staff participate in a mass immunization,” according to a message posted on the district’s website. Superintendent Charles Prijatelj ...

Spring Cove reports two new virus cases

At Spring Cove School District’s regular board meeting Monday, Superintendent Betsy Baker reported positive updates regarding the district’s COVID-19 numbers. In her superintendent’s report, Baker said there are two positive cases in the district, one at Central High School and another at Martinsburg Elementary School. Baker also reported that “many” district employees received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine over the weekend, and additional staff intend to receive it in the next few weeks. All board members were present and voted in favor of all items on the agenda, ...

Pandemic challenges law enforcement

The coronavirus pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to law enforcement in 2020, Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks told members of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club on Thursday via Zoom. “In 2020, we had more homicides here than in the previous 10 years. The number of fatal drug overdose deaths increased in 2020 as a result of the pandemic and the imposed lockdown by the governor,” Weeks said. The influx of drugs has been a big part of the problem. Weeks said the problem spiked after the end of mandatory sentencing in 2013. “We have seen an ...