Butler Health System officials announced a tentative date to resume elective services Thursday.

The Reopening Steering Committee recommended BHS resume May 4 on a limited basis for elective outpatient visits, admissions, surgeries and procedures, according to Jana Panther, spokeswoman for the regional health system.

Comprised of doctors and staff from a range of specialties, the committee started meeting last week to develop guidelines and offer recommendations regarding reopening elective services for the system.

Panther said the committee followed guidelines from professional organizations and the state Department of Health.

“The committee has established specific criteria pertaining to COVID-19 testing, personal protective equipment availability, patient risk stratification and acute care capacity,” Panther said. “The Committee will monitor activity on an ongoing basis. It is prepared to further expand services - or dial them back - based on COVID-19 activity over the next few weeks.”

Additionally, the health care system and state both released the following data about the coronavirus pandemic for Thursday. COVID-19 statistics are as follows:

Confirmed cases: 178Negative tests: 2,170Deaths: 6

New cases: 1,397Total cases: 45,763New deaths: 97Total deaths: 2,292Negative tests: 175,602

Inpatients: 8Suspected: 1Confirmed: 7ICU: 0Total tests: 2,691Outdoor tests: 1,928Positive tests: 205

Inpatients: 2Suspected: 0Confirmed: 2ICU: 0Total tests: 586Outdoor tests: 473Positive tests: 22

Allegheny: 1,289 confirmed cases, 15,815 negative test results, and 94 deathsWestmoreland: 391 confirmed, 4,447 negative, and 25 deathsBeaver: 405 confirmed, 2,055 negative, and 65 deathsLawrence: 65 confirmed, 724 negative, and 6 deathsMercer: 65 confirmed, 715 negative, and 1 deathArmstrong: 51 confirmed, 675 negative, and 2 deathsClarion: 23 confirmed, 480 negative, and 1 deathVenango: 7 confirmed and 246 negative<b><em>The total cases includes confirmed and probable cases. The total deaths and new deaths include only confirmed deaths, which is a person who tested positive for the virus before their death. </b></em>