According to state reporting Monday, the county's death toll reached 46, and state and local health officials are reporting further increases in hospitalizations.

The county's total deaths Monday was an increase of five over three days with two reported Saturday, one on Sunday and two on Monday, according to respective reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

During that same time frame, the county added a three-day total of 177 new confirmed cases with 55 reported Saturday, 59 on Sunday and 63 on Monday.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,227 county residents have tested positive.

The Department of Health's data has been noted to have a lag in reporting, usually between one or two days, which has been confirmed in the past by Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine.

According to Monday's report from Butler Health System, one patient from Butler Memorial Hospital died Saturday. Deaths are attributed to the deceased's county of permanent residence, even if the person dies in another county or state.

Both Butler Memorial and the state continued to show upticks in hospitalizations. Butler Memorial reported 32 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms, 31 of whom have tested positive. The hospital also reported five of the COVID-19 patients are being treated in the intensive care unit.

According to a Monday news release from the Department of Health, there are 2,440 people hospitalized statewide with 531 patients being treated with intensive care.

This is a breaking news report — pick up Tuesday's Butler Eagle to read more.