Butler County saw eight deaths and more than 300 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, according to state figures.

In addition, Butler Health System said it has received Final Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the Pfizer vaccine.

Butler Memorial Hospital and Clarion Hospital expect to receive an initial delivery of 975 doses each “very soon,” according to BHS.

BHS physician leadership is reviewing, and will continue to review, all available data and literature regarding safety of the vaccine.

The vaccine is not mandatory, but BHS is recommending that staff receive it. The process for distribution to employees and providers is being finalized.

Federal guidelines call for frontline health care workers and patients and staff at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to be the first to receive the vaccinations.

In its Monday COVID report, BHS said three deaths occurred at Butler Memorial Hospital on Dec. 12, and single deaths occurred on Dec. 11, 12, 13 and Monday at Clarion Hospital.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that number of deaths in the county increased to 125 on Sunday.

Statewide, 55 new deaths occurred Saturday and 129 occurred Sunday for a total of 12,620. Data from Monday was not available.

The number of COVID patients at both hospitals declined slightly since Friday, but the number of positive tests conducted at both facilities increased slightly.

Confirmed cases in the county increased by 311 since Friday to 4,652 on Monday.

Statewide, a total of 18,646 additional positive cases on Sunday and Monday raised the total to 499,764.

There are 5,970 people hospitalized including 1,227 patients in intensive care units. The trend in the 14-day moving average of number of hospitalized patients per day has increased by nearly 4,900 since the end of September. The statewide percent positivity for last week was 16.2%.