In response to Gov. Tom Wolf's request for federal assistance for areas hit hardest by the latest COVID-19 surge, some Pennsylvania hospitals will receive federal strike teams for help, according to the state department of health.

A representative of Butler Health System said it is not clear if Butler Memorial Hospital or Clarion Hospital will be targeted for aid by the strike teams, or other federal response.

However, the state department of health and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services. and the Department of Defense to identify available resources, and confirm the exact locations for additional COVID-19 relief.

Wolf said strike teams could be assigned to hospitals, nursing facilities and ambulances to address critical staffing support, and continued pandemic response support of a million rapid at-home COVID-19 tests, and increased allocation of monoclonal antibodies should be primarily focused on rural areas, regions with higher social vulnerability and lower vaccination rates.

On Dec. 23, Butler Memorial Hospital had 36 inpatients with COVID-19 with six in the ICU. The hospital also reported three COVID-related deaths Dec. 21 and three Dec. 22. Clarion Hospital had six COVID inpatients with two in the ICU at the same time, and reported one death on Dec. 16.

Butler County has had 19,000 to 21,000 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people, according to the department of health, with about 110,900 people fully vaccinated as of Tuesday. The county has had 607 deaths related to the disease, according to the department of health.

Pennsylvania's acting secretary of health Keara Klinepeter said meetings with federal systems are ongoing and have yet to yield specific missions for the strike teams.

“The federal government has responded to Governor Wolf's request for additional support for Pennsylvania's health care system and we are now meeting with them daily to finalize support plans,” Klinepeter said. “At this time, we do know that strike teams will be sent to the commonwealth and are working with our federal partners to identify and confirm exact locations and any additional resources.”