Six new COVID-19 cases reported overnight in Butler County, 643 statewide
As of noon Sunday the Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting 643 additional positive cases of the coronavirus since its previous update Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 3,394 - including six new cases in Butler County.
The county currently has 47 confirmed cases according to the state update. Butler also reported its second death due to the virus Friday. Its largest neighbor to the south, Allegheny County, reports 265 confirmed cases including two deaths.
Jana Panther, spokeswoman for Butler Health System, also updated the current status of patients in the regional health system's hospitals. Butler Memorial Hospital is currently treating nine patients in-hospital that either have symptoms or confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those nine patients,four have tested positive and five are suspected to have the virus. Four of those are currently in the ICU.
Sunday's update from BHS represents a drop in the number of patients being treated at the Butler hospital by four from Saturday's update that the hospital was treating 13 patients on site.
Neighboring Clarion County is still reporting three patients with symptoms, one of which is in ICU with a confirmed case.
The Pennsylvania health department reported four new deaths statewide among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 38, a drop from the 12 deaths reported between Friday and Saturday. All confirmed cases are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital according to the health department.
As of Sunday morning, there are 30,061 people in Pennsylvania who tested negative for the virus. Of the patients who have tested positive to date.
According to the BHS update, the regional health system has tested 902 people, of which the BMH outdoor site tested 645 people, while its Clarion site tested 113. No information about the number of results that have come back negative was available.
All non-life-sustaining businesses are ordered to be closed and schools are closed statewide at least through April 6. Currently 19 counties are under stay-at-home orders.
On Friday Governor Tom Wolf extended stay-at-home orders to additional regions including Butler County.
The Wolf administration continues to stress the role Pennsylvanians need to play in helping reduce spread of the virus, including washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes with your elbow, frequently cleaning surfaces and staying at home.