Stay at home unless absolutely necessary.

That was the order handed down to Butler County residents by Gov. Tom Wolf, who extended his stay-at-home order Friday to include 19 counties in an effort to slow the exponential spread of the coronavirus in the state. The order came into effect 8 p.m. Friday and extends until at least April 6.

Wolf's mandate comes the same day a second patient died of the coronavirus in Butler County, which has thus far seen 26 people test positive for the virus. Throughout the state, there are 2,218 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 22 people have died as of noon Friday.

County commissioners said they urge residents to follow the order and to limit the frequency and length of necessary trips like grocery shopping, which is still permitted under the order.

“The governor and the state Department of Health put Butler County on this list because they're looking for a way to control the community spreading,” Commissioner Kim Geyer said. “I believe this is the state's way of mitigating the risk of spread and we support the governor in what he's trying to do.”

While the order is for residents to stay home except for “essential” activities, there are a number of tasks considered essential. Going grocery shopping, caring for a family member in another household and exercising outside while maintaining social distancing are considered allowable, as is working at a business considered life-sustaining. Travel to do those activities is also permitted.

Businesses that were permitted to remain open following the governor's earlier order may continue to operate.

“The order doesn't change a lot of things, other than bringing it to the forefront again of how extremely important it is to avoid as much social contact (and) social circles as possible,” Commissioner Kevin Boozel said. “We understand people still have to live, still have to buy groceries, but you don't have to meander through the store with five people.”

Jordan Grady, executive director of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, said he encourages businesses to use the chamber as a resource, and that they'll be sending out information to members who might be looking for answers.

According to Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, counties in which community spread of the virus is witnessed are considered for addition to the stay-at-home order. She implied Friday there was evidence of that spread in the county.

“As those numbers increase to a significant level and we have evidence of community spread, then we discuss that with the governor's administration and the governor, and the governor decides whether to institute a stay-at-home order,” she said in a news conference. “And in those new counties, we're seeing those trends, and that explains the governor's order today.”

Steve Bicehouse, county director of emergency services, said county officials were not surprised by Wolf's order as they've been monitoring actions taken at the state level as the number of cases rose.

“It's not unexpected,” Bicehouse said. “It's certainly not a reason to panic.”

Boozel said he expects enforcement of the order to mirror the enforcement of Wolf's March 16 non-essential business closure order. He said the county itself does not have enforcement power.

“There are enforcement agencies such as code enforcement or law enforcement or state police but, ultimately, what they're going to do first is a soft approach,” he said.

Boozel added that workers who have a question about whether or not their employer is considered life-sustaining can look at the governor's list of what industries are and are not considered essential.

“I think that the important part is, if you're working for companies that you question whether or not they should be open, it's clearly outlined in the governor's page online to see which ones are essential and not essential,” he said.

He said that he's seen significant compliance with social distancing measures — like staying six feet apart from others and limiting gatherings to small groups. Geyer said she's grateful for workers such as health care workers, gas station attendants and first responders who continue to work during the crisis.

“These are people that are actually putting their lives on the line to enable us to receive essential services such as food and gas, to get us where we need to go, and most importantly emergency medical care,” she said. “And without these people, I'm not quite sure how things would be for all of us.”