The state recovery rate from COVID-19 improved slightly, and the number of people hospitalized is beginning to decrease.

The recovery rate increased Friday to 89% after being at 88% for the last week or so, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Butler Health System is treating eight COVID-19 patients, including four in intensive care at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Clarion Hospital has no patients with the virus, according to BHS.

Statewide, 2,318 people are hospitalized, including 522 in intensive care. The 14-day average number of people hospitalized per day is starting to decrease after peaking at 2,661 patients, which is slightly below what it was at the spring 2020 peak of the pandemic of 2,751 patients on May 3, 2020.

Sixty-seven new cases reported in the county Friday and 4,607 new cases across the state increase the totals to 10,654 and 1,151,005, respectively, since the pandemic began.

In nursing and personal care homes, 70,722 residents and employees have COVID-19. Of the deaths in the state, 13,113 have been residents of nursing or personal care facilities.

About 27,692 of the cases in the state are among health care workers.

The 39 new deaths across the state raise the total to 26,218.

The department also said 3,420,864 people are fully vaccinated and an average of more than 92,100 people are getting vaccinated every day.

BHS said all residents age 16 and older can now sign up for vaccinations, and should do so because the coronavirus continues to spread in the community. Appointments can be scheduled at www.butlerhealthsystem.org. BHS is also accepting walk-ins for vaccinations at the vaccine clinics at the Clearview Mall and Clarion Hospital.