The county commissioners voted Wednesday to send a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf requesting that Butler be included in the counties allowed to ease restrictions put into place six weeks ago as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wolf is expected to announce Friday the counties that can move to the “yellow” phase of restrictions in the pandemic. The entire state is in the “red,” or most-restrictive phase.

The commissioners' letter to Wolf included an exhaustive list of reasons that Butler County should be allowed to move to the yellow phase, which would lift the stay-at-home order and allow many businesses to reopen with safety orders and following social distancing and cleaning guidelines.

Dr. Rachel Levine, the state secretary of health, said at a news conference Wednesday that the governor will consider requests to move to the yellow phase.“We're always pleased to receive correspondence from county commissioners,” Levine said.

Schools, theaters, gyms and spas would remain closed, restaurants would remain take-out only, and large gatherings would still be prohibited in the yellow phase.

Support for move to yellowLeslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said Butler Health System is supportive of moving to the yellow phase, as is Steve Bicehouse, the county's emergency management director.Osche said the commissioners' online meetings with officials in the county's townships and boroughs has shown that municipalities agree with moving to the yellow phase.She said Butler Health System officials have indicated that they have sufficient supplies and equipment to handle any surge in coronavirus cases, and that the Broad Street School has been leased by the county as an alternative care site should cases spike.Osche also said the commissioners have requested that the state health department, as the licensing agent for all group-care facilities in the state, shares information with the county regarding the number of people in group-care facilities in the county to ensure personal protection equipment and training can be offered to those facilities.Commissioner Kim Geyer said the county should be evaluated for possible yellow status on its own merits and using local control.“We don't want to be compared to other counties,” Geyer said.

Push to reopen southwest regionAt the same time, the commissioners are advocating for the entire southwest region to move to yellow status, and has been collaborating with regional entities like the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission regarding reopening the regional economy.Geyer said she hopes Wolf considers the fact that as employers, Butler County's small businesses and farmers are making modifications to conform to coronavirus protocol.“Everyone is adapting,” she said. “Everyone is securing PPE for their places of business because they understand the new reality that we all must adapt to the environment that is before us.”Commissioner Kevin Boozel said he hopes the county's voice will be heard in Harrisburg as a result of the letter to Wolf. “They don't know what is happening in Butler,” Boozel said. “They're too far removed.”The commissioners will send the letter and anxiously await Wolf's announcement Friday regarding which counties can move to yellow status.“It's up to the governor's office now,” Boozel said.As of Wednesday, Butler Memorial Hospital was caring for 12 COVID-19 patients.The county's numbers regarding diagnoses of COVID-19 have been flat lately, with one new case reported Wednesday and no additional deaths, which remain at six.According to Wednesday's report, statewide deaths increased by 479 to 2,140.Statewide totals increased by 47 new deaths reported Monday and 119 new deaths on Tuesday. The Department of Health continues to attribute these high peaks to data consolidation. “These deaths have occurred over the last two weeks,” a department news release stated.