Butler County added four deaths and more cases to its pandemic-wide totals, according to Thursday's state report.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health's daily update, the county added 63 new confirmed cases in addition to the deaths. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the county has had 2,446 residents test positive for COVID-19 and 52 residents die from the virus.

While Thursday's new cases fell short of the record-setting 90 the county saw Wednesday, it was still part of a growing trend. The county has averaged about 48 new confirmed cases daily in the month of November. In October, that average was about 16 new confirmed cases per day.

Counties across the state have experienced similar problems, causing the state to reach another new record-high Thursday with the addition of 7,126 new confirmed cases.

In response to the growing trend, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine on Wednesday instituted stricter orders relating to mask-wearing and travel.

To emphasis this point, Levine wore a mask through the duration of her news conference on vaccines Thursday. In past news conferences, state officials would remove their masks at the podium.

Regarding vaccines, Levine said wearing masks, social distancing and proper hygiene will still be needed, even after one or more of the vaccines are approved.

“When the vaccine becomes available, it will not be a cure or an immediate end to the coronavirus pandemic,” she said.

Currently, there are two vaccines being developed by the companies Pfizer and Moderna that are in phase three of their trials, and there are about four other viable candidates not far behind them in the process.

Levine reiterated the state's plans to use a three-phase approach for distribution and administration of the vaccines when they become available.

Healthcare personnel, EMS first responders, critical workers and people ages 65 and older will be in the first phase. In the second phase, people who are a higher risk due to other health conditions as well as other types of high-risk congregate settings will be prioritized. The third phase will involve vaccinations for the rest of the population.

But before distribution, the vaccines will need to receive some approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and be awarded an Emergency Use Authorization.

“The vaccine needs to go through different approaches to make sure that it is safe and effective,” Levine said. “We are watching these trials carefully to see how people respond to the vaccines and to learn of any potential side effects.”

Levine also called on the federal government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide more funding for the distribution process, which is being handled by each state's own health department.

Levine used the $8 billion to $12 billion of federal funding that was funneled into Operation Warp Speed as a point of reference for her request. About $340 million was set aside to be split by all 50 states to create a distribution network and procedure.

“We're going to try to immunize every single person eventually in Pa. Think of that throughout the entire United States,” Levine said. She said $340 million is “not enough to accomplish this prodigious task.”