State officials dangled the possibility of further mitigation efforts Monday, citing future COVID-19 dangers.

“Over the course of the past two weeks, unfortunately, Pennsylvania's situation became even more dire,” said Gov. Tom Wolf in a news conference Monday. “If we don't slow the spread of this virus right now, the reality is that COVID-19 will overwhelm our healthcare and hospital system.”

While no new orders or actions were taken by state officials Monday, there was an admission that the additional efforts taken about two weeks ago were ineffective.

Wolf and state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said that rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have dictated their thoughts regarding more mitigation efforts in the near future.

“We are looking at all sorts of issues right now, and very shortly we will come back with more recommendations,” Wolf said.

While more mitigation tactics appear to be on the horizon, Wolf confirmed the new measures would not look as drastic as they did in the spring, a time when more unknown variables guided their decision-making.

“We can be much more targeted. I don't see the red, yellow green as being remotely appropriate at this point,” Wolf said.

Hospitalization rates continued to rise Monday with 5,300 people statewide who are in the hospital due to COVID-19. Of those inpatients, 1,107 are being treated in intensive care units.

According to Monday's report by Butler Health System, Butler Memorial Hospital currently has 46 confirmed inpatients with COVID-19 and one who is awaiting test results. Of the 47 inpatients, 12 are being treated in its intensive care unit.

“We remain extremely concerned due to the number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19,” said Levine.

This is a breaking news report — read more in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.