Butler Health System continues to plan during the uncertainty of the coronavirus outbreak.

“BHS is working with Butler County and Butler Area School District officials to prepare nearby off-site care facilities, should they become necessary,” Panther said.

Panther said that while such precautions are not necessary as of today, the planning is part of the regional health system's effort to think forward.

As of Thursday morning, Butler Memorial Hospital reported 17 inpatients, seven with suspected cases of COVID-19 and 10 with confirmed cases. Four of those 17 patients are being treated in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

BHS also provided statistics for Clarion Hospital, which has five inpatients, four with suspected cases of COVID-19 and one with a confirmed case. Two of the five patients are being treated in the ICU.

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In addition to treating the virus, BHS continues to test for the virus daily. Through Wednesday, the hospital has run 1,286 tests, with 998 of those being done at its outdoor facility on Brady Street in Butler.Testing has yielded 55 positive results of COVID-19, with roughly 343 results still pending.Additionally, Clarion Hospital tested 236 patients to date, with 191 tests done through its outdoor facility. Through its tests, Clarion Hospital identified three confirmed results with about 154 results pending.Panther said supply availability remains adequate at this time, but BHS continues to encourage donations of personal protective equipment. People wishing to donate supplies, especially personal protective equipment, may arrange it through covid19donations@butlerhealthsystem.org.Also as of noon Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,211 additional positive cases of the coronavirus since its last update Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 7,016 — including five new cases in Butler County.The report also said 47,698 patients statewide tested negative for the virus to date.Butler County's five new cases, bring its total confirmed cases to 69, but its death toll remained at two, according to the state update.Its largest neighbor to the south, Allegheny County, reports 419 confirmed cases, a rise of 63 cases. Allegheny County's death toll also remained the same at two people.Based on the report, data for the surrounding counties are as follows:• Westmoreland - 84 confirmed cases• Beaver - 55 confirmed cases and 2 death• Lawrence - 16 confirmed cases and 2 deaths• Mercer - 9 confirmed cases• Armstrong - 7 confirmed cases• Clarion - 4 confirmed cases• Venango - 3 confirmed cases