Butler Memorial Hospital revised its visitation policy as Butler County saw more COVID-19 deaths reported by both Butler Health System and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

“This is out of an abundance of caution,” said Dr. John Love, a infectious disease specialist with BHS.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Butler Memorial returned to a no-visitation policy, which it had done in the spring. The restrictions have some exceptions.

In most exceptions, only one visitor is allowed, and these exceptions include cases in which a parent or designee is required, or in the case in which someone cannot take care of themselves after a visit, such as a procedure or surgery.

Entrance hours have also been shifted. The Tower entrance will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and closed Sunday. The Brady Street entrance will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Love said no one wants to deprive patients of visitors, but it is important to safeguard the hospital patients and staff from the community, where COVID-19 is spreading.

“The risk has gone up since the community case rate has gone up,” Love said. “Our staff is our most precious resource right now, and we have to do whatever we can to decrease their risks other than those inherent in their job.”

On Wednesday, BHS reported three new COVID-19 deaths at Butler Memorial Hospital, one that occurred late Monday and two on Wednesday.From its report Friday until Wednesday, the hospital reported 10 deaths, although the county of residence of these patients was not listed in the report.The residence of the patient affects the county in terms of how deaths are counted in the state's own reporting.In Wednesday's Department of Health report, Butler County saw four new deaths added to its total. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 39 county residents have died from the virus.The department's reports run about one to two days behind the occurrence of deaths, so Tuesday's deaths may still need to be counted in the coming days as long as the permanent residence of those patients was listed within Butler County.While Butler Memorial has seen losses, it continues to see beds filled with new patients.On Wednesday, staff at the hospital continued inpatient treatment for 25 patients with COVID-19 symptoms, nine with suspected cases and 16 confirmed to have the virus. Five of those patients are being treated in the intensive care unit.Butler County has continued to see a rise in hospitalizations as its case counts in the community climb. The county added 55 new confirmed cases of the virus Wednesday, according to the daily report by the health department. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,949 residents have tested positive for COVID-19.On Wednesday, the state reported a new record high number of new confirmed cases — 4,711 — of the virus.State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine is expected to conduct a regular media briefing Thursday.