Butler County saw five new deaths and 93 new cases of COVID-19 as more than 8,500 new cases were reported statewide on Tuesday.

The new deaths and cases raise the county totals to 179 and 6,100, respectively. The 8,545 additional cases statewide brings the total to 622,349, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The 267 new statewide deaths reported Monday raise the total to 15,353.

The department reported 5,995 people, nearly double the number in the spring, are hospitalized with the coronavirus. Of that number, 1,174 patients are in intensive care units. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

The trend in the 14-day moving average of number of hospitalized patients per day has increased by nearly 5,600 since the end of September.

The statewide percent positivity for the week of Dec. 18-24 was 15.1%.

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