Butler Health System activated Phase 1 of its surge plan Wednesday in response to recent spikes of COVID-19 cases.

According to a BHS news release Wednesday, both Clarion Hospital and Butler Memorial Hospital have reached their maximum capacity for their intensive care units.

Butler Memorial is converting its post-anesthesia care unit to a critical care unit, which will add 15 ICU beds.

BHS also is suspending nonemergency and elective surgeries and procedures that require inpatient stays. Outpatient procedures that don't require hospitalizations will continue.

BHS and other hospitals throughout the region have continued to see growing numbers of COVID-19 cases in their communities as well as dwindling bed numbers due to high hospitalization rates.

BHS on Wednesday reported 44 patients hospitalized at Butler Memorial with confirmed cases of COVID-19. Seven of those patients are being treated in the intensive care unit.

BHS reported one patient died Tuesday due to the virus. Clarion Hospital also reported one death Monday and another Tuesday.

Clarion Hospital has also seen a rise in inpatient numbers with 27 hospitalized patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19. Clarion also has seven of its COVID patients in intensive care.

“Staff and patient safety is BHS's No. 1 concern. The community must do its part to prevent spread and to help keep all health care workers healthy and available to care for those in need,” said a BHS news release Wednesday.

Butler County on Wednesday added 66 new confirmed cases and two deaths, according to the daily Pennsylvania Department of health report.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 3,351 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 82 have died due to the virus.

The department also reported 8,291 new positive cases statewide Wednesday and 194 new deaths. There are 4,744 people hospitalized statewide, and 967 of those patients are in intensive care units.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf reiterated the latest form of the masking order established by state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine.

The order calls for the wearing of masks at all times in public indoor settings, regardless of social distancing. It also calls for mask wearing outdoors when distancing of 6 feet from others is impossible.

Residents should also be wearing masks at their own home when visitors are present and when visiting others in their homes.

“Masks are an important tool in our fight against COVID-19,” said Wolf in his post.