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COVID-19

COVID-19 testing expands to Bedford

Bedford County will be among the first beneficiaries of an extended state contract, with a team setting up free COVID-19 testing from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday in the Bedford High School parking lot, 330 W. John St., Bedford. The state Department of Health has extended its contract with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare, creating five new regional “strike teams” to provide additional COVID-19 testing. The testing is for 61 of the state’s 67 counties — all those without their own health departments, according to information presented in a virtual news conference and a news ...

Blair prison has 43 inmates with COVID-19

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Forty-three inmates inside the Blair County Prison have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Tuesday, prompting the testing of all inmates and a lockdown restricting inmate movement inside the facility. “Blair County is following all Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Centers for Disease Control and Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines to minimize the risk to the healthy inmates and the county correctional officers caring for the inmate population,” the county reported Tuesday in a news release issued on behalf of the prison board. The spike in county ...

Blair inches toward releasing CARES grants

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County leaders said Tuesday that they’re closing in on awarding grants to help small businesses, tourism and nonprofit agencies address COVID-19 expenses and losses. Commissioners may be in a position today to address one of the major categories, Chairman Bruce Erb said Tuesday during a meeting in which $6 million was allocated among the following four spending categories: -- $2.1 million to grant programs to help small businesses. -- $1.43 million to assist municipalities for COVID-19 response and planning, including the purchase of personal protective ...

Tyrone continues in-person classes

TYRONE — Rose Black has retained her position as president of the Tyrone Area School Board. On Tuesday, the board held its regular/reorganizational session meeting. The board reelected William Lash as vice president, and David Fusco retained his position as employee relations contact for the district. The employee relations contact works to “create an opportunity for dialogue between local school directors and (Pennsylvania School Boards Association) on the many issues facing boards in their role as an employer,” according to the district. The board tabled a decision on ...

Pandemic takes toll on Salvation Army’s bell ringing

Officials with The Altoona Salvation Army Worship and Service Center said the impact of COVID-19 has increased the number of residents needing assistance, decreased the availability of volunteers and lowered donations since the mid-November start of the Red Kettle Campaign. “We want to ...

State’s COVID-19 positives top 8K

Pennsylvania set a record Thursday for new COVID-19 cases, then broke it Friday, topping 8,000 for the first time, quadrupling the state’s high point for the spring. The statistics are alarming, but hardly evoke the reality of the illness, according to Harold Chambers, 83, of Altoona, a pastor who called the Mirror to discuss his recent COVID-19 experience. “I want people to understand,” Chambers said. “It just about took my breath.” He became infected on a visit to Mount Union, learning after coming back to Altoona that the son of his father’s old friend had the ...