As Butler Health System continues to fight the coronavirus outbreak in Butler County, it is planning for an off-site facility that officials hope never will be used.

“BHS is working with Butler County and Butler Area School District officials to prepare nearby off-site care facilities, should they become necessary,” BHS spokeswoman Jana Panther said.

Panther said these precautions are not necessary as of today.

Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche said a site has not been selected yet.

“We are exploring all of our options,” she said. “We're calling on every expert we can so we can get this done in a timely manner.”

Commissioner Kim Geyer said this decision transcends the pandemic and establishes a site that could be used in future emergency events that put a similar demand on medical systems.

“It's preparation for a facility we hope we don't have to use,” Geyer said. “We want to make sure this is not only something that can stand up now, but it can stand up in the future.”

Butler Area School District Superintendent Brian White said the district is happy to assist during such an urgent time.

Earlier this week, Gov. Tom Wolf extended the shutdown of schools indefinitely, and many school districts across the county and state are planning as if they will not return for the remainder of the school year.

“At times of crisis, our facilities can be used for other purposes,” White said. “I think at this point, they're preparing for the unknown.”

White said one example of a possible site could be Broad Street Elementary School. He said the non-operational school has air-conditioning, which could prove essential if the pandemic continues into the summer months.

Also, the building was vacant before the outbreak, so if the pandemic ends earlier than expected, then the off-site facility would not impact students' ability to return to school.

“I'm completely impressed with the BHS staff and how forward-thinking they are,” White said. “Any way we can help support we will.”

County cases

As of Thursday morning, Butler Memorial Hospital reported 17 inpatients, seven with suspected cases of COVID-19 and 10 with confirmed cases.

Four of those 17 patients are being treated in the hospital's intensive care unit.

BHS also provided statistics for Clarion Hospital, which has five inpatients, four with suspected cases of COVID-19 and one with a confirmed case. Two of the five patients are being treated in the ICU.

In addition to treating patients with the virus, BHS continues to test people for the virus daily. Through Wednesday, the hospital has run 1,286 tests, with 998 of those being done at its outdoor facility on Brady Street in Butler.

Testing has yielded 55 positive results and roughly 343 results are pending.

Also through Wednesday, Clarion Hospital has tested 236 patients to date, with 191 tests done through its outdoor facility. Through its tests, Clarion Hospital identified three confirmed results with 154 results pending.

Panther said supply availability is adequate at this time, but BHS continues to encourage donations of personal protective equipment. People wishing to donate supplies, especially personal protective equipment, may arrange it through covid19donations@butlerhealthsystem.org.

Also as of noon Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,211 additional positive cases of the coronavirus since its last update Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 7,016 — including five new cases in Butler County.

The report also said 47,698 patients statewide tested negative for the virus to date.

Butler County's five new cases bring its total confirmed cases to 69, but its death toll remained at two, according to the state update.

Its largest neighbor to the south, Allegheny County, reports 419 confirmed cases, a rise of 63 cases. Allegheny County's death toll also remained at two.

Based on the report, data for the surrounding counties are as follows: Westmoreland, 84 confirmed cases; Beaver, 55 confirmed cases and two deaths; Lawrence, 16 confirmed cases and two deaths; Mercer, nine confirmed cases; Armstrong, seven confirmed cases; Clarion, four confirmed cases; and Venango, three confirmed cases.