Due to a steady supply of COVID-19 vaccine, Butler Memorial Hospital has open appointments for vaccinations through most of April.

Butler Health System is among several hundred vaccine providers in the state receiving additional doses due to its ability to administer high volumes of vaccine.

BHS is in the process of converting the former Sears store at the Clearview Mall in Center Township into a community vaccination clinic where it will be able to increase the number of vaccinations to 3,000 a day from the current 1,600 if it has enough vaccine. The clinic is scheduled to open April 14.

The hospital also announced changes to the hours of operation for its coronavirus testing site at 304 Delwood Road. Beginning April 5, the new hours will be noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A physician's order is still required to receive a test. People without primary care physicians should call the BHS Care Center at 833-602-2273.

Vaccinations are continuing across the state, but the number of new cases and people being hospitalized are showing small increases.

Statewide, a total of 4,728,541 vaccinations have been administered, including 3,068,295 partial and 1,660,246 full vaccinations, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

In the county, 23,511 people are partially vaccinated and 34,923 people are fully vaccinated.

The 4,927 new cases reported March 26 in the state raises the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 1,005,167, and is the highest number of new cases since January. About 26,288 of the cases are among health care workers.

The 47 new cases in the county increased the total number of cases to 9,502, and one new death pushed the total to 384.

Butler Memorial Hospital reported having 15 COVID-19 patients, including six in intensive care. A patient died March 24.

The 36 new deaths in the state brings the total to 24,953 since the beginning of the pandemic.

There are 1,717 people hospitalized, including 358 patients in intensive care. The 14-day average number of people hospitalized per day is about 4,500 lower than it was at the peak in December 2020 and below what it was at the height of the spring peak in May 2020.

However, the average of number of hospitalized patients has started to increase again, according to the department.

In nursing and personal care homes, 69,092 residents and 14,176 employees have COVID-19. Of the total deaths in the state, 12,904 have been residents of nursing or personal care facilities.

The following numbers on the coronavirus pandemic were compiled from regular news releases from the state Department of Health and the Butler Health System.COVID-19 statistics from Friday are:<b>Butler County</b>Confirmed cases: 9,502Probable cases: 5,474Negative tests: 48,363Deaths: 384<b>Butler Memorial Hospital</b>Inpatients: 15Suspected: 0Confirmed: 15ICU: 6Total tests: 42,569Outdoor tests: 17,072Positive tests: 2,910<b>Clarion Hospital</b>Inpatients: 0Suspected: 0Confirmed: 0ICU: 0Total tests: 12,481Outdoor tests: 10,580Positive tests: 1,988<b>Pennsylvania</b>New cases: 4,927Total cases: 1,005,167New deaths: 36Total deaths: 24,953Recovered: 91 percent<b>Surrounding Counties</b>Allegheny: 64,802 confirmed cases; 377,366 negative; and 1,797 deathsArmstrong: 4,001 confirmed; 15,529 negative; and 119 deathsBeaver: 10,830 confirmed; 47,408 negative; and 356 deathsClarion: 1,790 confirmed; 8,293 negative; and 88 deathsLawrence: 4,826 confirmed; 18,895 negative; and 194 deathsMercer: 6,690 confirmed; 28,046 negative; and 247 deathsVenango: 2,806 confirmed; 10,961 negative; and 90 deathsWestmoreland: 19,935 confirmed; 90,333 negative; and 702 death