This is a breaking news report — read more in Tuesday's Butler Eagle. A few positive signs are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the number of cases and deaths remains high.The statewide recovery rate has inched up from 61% last week to 64% Monday and the positivity rate decreased slightly from 16.2% three weeks ago to 15.1% Monday.However, 1,145 of the 5,905 people hospitalized across the state due to the coronavirus are in intensive care and 747 of them are on ventilators, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Monday.Levine said the number of cases among youths between ages 5 and 18 increased by 12,873 last week to a total of 57,163.The health department reported 7,174 new cases Saturday, 4,884 on Sunday and 3,779 on Monday, bringing the statewide total to 613,804.The death toll from the virus continues to climb. Department reports show 26 new deaths on Christmas, 127 on Saturday and 76 Sunday, and a total of 15,086.In Butler County, the number of confirmed cases rose to 6,007 and the number of deaths reached 174 on Monday.Butler Memorial Hospital reported that five people died between Dec. 23 and 27. One person died Dec. 23, two people died Christmas Day, one person died Dec. 26 and another death occurred Dec. 27.The hospital also reported it is treating 59 COVID patients, including eight in the intensive care unit.Clarion Hospital, also part of the Butler Health System, reported one death Dec. 23 and another Dec. 28. The hospital is treating eight people with confirmed cases, including one patient in the ICU.

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