As Butler Health System continues its coronavirus treatments and testing, it received the promise of supplies from the county's school districts.

As of Tuesday morning, 15 patients are hospitalized at Butler Memorial Hospital, with nine being suspected of having the virus and six who have tested positive. Six of these 15 patients are being treated in the intensive care unit.

BHS also reported that Clarion Hospital has six patients hospitalized, five with suspected cases and one with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Three of these six patients are being treated in the ICU.

Through Monday, BHS has tested 1,075 patients with 794 of those tests obtained through its outdoor facility on Brady Street.

Clarion Hospital has tested 148 patients at its outdoor facility.

Keeping stocked

“Supply availability is adequate at this time,” said Jana Panther, BHS spokeswoman. “BHS continues to encourage and is receiving all donations of personal protective equipment.”

Local school districts are doing their part to keep the hospital stocked.

Seneca Valley School District Superintendent Tracy Vitale said she and Butler Superintendent Brian White have been organizing and coordinating the collection and donation for all the districts in Butler County.

Vitale is a member of the Butler Health System board of trustees and had arranged for the donation with Ken DeFurio, health system CEO.

“Arrangements will be made for Butler Memorial Hospital to pick up the donations this week,” Vitale said.

Slippery Rock Superintendent Alfonso Angelucci said Vitale has been instrumental in getting these donations where they need to go. He said many of his principals and fellow administrators have been key in schoolwide collection too.

“We were happy to help,” Angelucci said. “Our health care workers are invaluable to our communities. We knew that before, but now it is so apparent.”

White said most of what his district donated were gloves, goggles and some masks.

“We had some of those (masks) because of our shop classes or chemistry classes,” White said. “We have a lot of personal protective equipment on hand when we're operating, and it makes sense that when we're not operating to give it to those who need them.”

Vitale said the districts' donation is one of many examples that she has seen of Pennsylvanians working together to make a difference during this crisis.

“These donations could save a life — one of our employees, one of our family members. The first responders, doctors and nurses are the true heroes in this pandemic,” she said. “This is a prime example of when we all work together in Butler County, we get things done.”

Staying the course

These donations come in the wake of Gov. Tom Wolf's announcement Monday that he was removing any specified end date to social distancing protocols enacted for schools and businesses.

“Up until now, I've been saying another two weeks, another two weeks, but now I'm going to leave the indefinite,” Wolf said Monday.

Wolf said the state will continue to evaluate the situation as it has from the start of the pandemic, and he continues to urge people to stay home unless absolutely necessary.

“We're going to keep our schools and businesses closed as long as we need to keep them closed to keep Pennsylvanians safe,” he said. “Right now it isn't safe.”

Virus update

After a few slow days, Butler County saw another spike in coronavirus cases Tuesday.

As of noon Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 756 additional positive cases of the coronavirus since its last update Monday, bringing the statewide total to 4,843 — including 11 new cases in Butler County. The report also said 37,645 patients statewide tested negative for the virus to date.

Butler County's 11 new cases bring its total confirmed cases to 60, but its number of deaths remained at two, according to the state update.

Its largest neighbor to the south, Allegheny County, reports 325 confirmed cases, a rise of 35 cases. Allegheny County's deaths also remained at two.

Based on the report, data for the surrounding counties is as follows: Westmoreland, 61 confirmed cases; Beaver, 52 confirmed cases and one death; Lawrence, 13 confirmed cases and two deaths; Mercer, eight confirmed cases; Armstrong, five confirmed cases; Clarion, three confirmed cases; and Venango, three confirmed cases.

Butler Health SystemTo arrange a donation to Butler Health System, email covid19donations@butlerhealthsystem.org.Harmony EMSSeneca Valley Superintendent Tracy Vitale said requests for personal protective equipment have come from a local EMS.If you or a business would like to assist with supply or monetary donations to the Harmony EMS, contact Annie Mersing, Seneca Valley Foundation director of development, at mersingam@svsd.net or 724-504-8295.