When first responders get a call for a coronavirus patient, the situation moves out of the realm of statistics.

In the past month, medical responders and fire departments have noticed a rise in the number of virus patients calling 911 for help. And their observations aren't just anecdotal. Confirmed cases in the county have risen by 1,075 so far this month, adding more cases in less than a month than in all previous months combined.

“It's definitely concerning,” said Ted Fessides, the chief and executive of Cranberry Township EMS. “We're keeping a close eye on it. During the summer we got a little bit lax with it but it's come back with a vengeance. What we're seeing now is worse than summer and spring combined. Up until three weeks ago, call volume was down about 18 percent. Now it's back up.”

When COVID-19 began to spread in March, many of the infections occurred in urban centers. But since then, the virus has spread to more rural areas like Butler County.

Butler County's first confirmed case was reported March 21. The county didn't reach the first 1,075 total confirmed cases until Oct. 8.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,685 county residents have tested positive for COVID-19, and 57 residents have died from the virus.

And that rise in the number of cases is most apparent to first responders who get calls for problems, such as difficulty breathing. In those cases, the responders typically wear personal protective equipment such as N-95 masks, gowns and face shields.

If a person suffering from a medical condition calls 911, the Butler County Emergency Services, which operates the 911 call center, asks callers about their symptoms to determine if they have the virus.

The system has been in place since March, but only recently have callers regularly exhibited virus-like symptoms or told operators that they have contracted the virus, according to Steve Bicehouse, director of emergency management for the county.

“In the last three weeks, we've seen a significant increase in those types of calls,” said Amy McConnell, director of operations for Karns City Regional Ambulance Service, which serves the Chicora-Petrolia area. “Prior to that, it was very low. I wouldn't be exaggerating by saying our call volume has increased twofold.”

McConnell said the increase in calls for their service has come from people at home experiencing virus-related symptoms as well as a virus outbreak at a long-term care facility.

Like other emergency medical service organizations, McConnell said Karns City's is experiencing a shortage in gloves, which all EMS personnel must wear out in the field.

“Once we run out, we'll have to go on Amazon or something with the fear of paying a fortune,” she said.

Other organizations have reported shortages of equipment.

For the Chicora Volunteer Fire Department, N-95 masks are in short supply for the firefighters, according to Fire Chief Cody Craig.

The shortage has led Craig to try and limit their exposure to patients with the virus.

“Supply can be hard right now,” he said. “We only send two personnel in to check on fire alarms and stuff like that, same thing with nursing homes.”

And Butler Ambulance has also noted a shortage.

“With the high cost and limited availability of supplies, it has put restrictions on us, an extra burden,” said Gene Troyan, director of operations for Butler Ambulance. “And there has definitely been an increase in patients with COVID. It's a pretty substantial increase too.”

Troyan said that he and the other medical organizations are buying up personal protective equipment, creating a higher demand than supply can satisfy.

“It makes it difficult for us to get this stuff,” Troyan said. “And I don't expect the number of COVID patients to go down, especially now with the holidays coming up. We'll probably see an increase.”