Butler Health System reported another death due to the coronavirus Friday afternoon.

BHS spokeswoman Jana Panther said one patient, who tested positive for COVID-19, died Friday morning. This is the second death since the pandemic began, both occurring in the last few days. The regional health system did not release any other information about the patient.

Also Friday, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, whose district contains a large swath of Butler County, tested positive for COVID-19.

A statement issued by Kelly’s office reported the long-time congressman began experiencing mild flu-like symptoms early this week and his physician ordered a COVID-19 test. The congressman obtained the test at the drive-through site at Butler Memorial Hospital, and his results came back positive Friday afternoon.

Kelly is the fifth sitting member of Congress — and the fourth in the U.S. House — to test positive for the respiratory illness. Although he did not specify his symptoms, he said they were mild.

“My symptoms remain mild, and I will serve the 16th District from home until I fully recover,” Kelly said in his statement.

Kelly is among several residents recovering or quarantining at home in Butler County due to COVID-19. There are still 15 patients hospitalized at Butler Memorial Hospital with 14 of those patients having suspected cases of COVID-19 and one being confirmed to have the virus.

Seven of those 15 hospitalized patients are being treated in the intensive care unit, an increase from four yesterday.

BHS confirmed that Clarion Hospital’s statistics have remained unchanged with two patients in the ICU. One is suspected of having COVID-19. The second patient has been confirmed to have the virus.

Data from the state Department of Health shows that 26 patients in the county have been confirmed to have the coronavirus. It is not clear if all the patients are being treated at BMH.

As of Friday’s noon update on the state Department of Health website, neighboring Beaver County reported 14 confirmed cases, doubling its seven confirmed cases just two days prior in the Wednesday report.

Lawrence County reported four cases, an increase of three in just two days. Armstrong remained at just one confirmed case, while Mercer county jumped to four confirmed cases. Westmoreland County has 30 confirmed cases.

Allegheny County, Butler’s largest neighbor to the south, now has 158 confirmed cases — an increase of 70 cases in two days. Like Butler, the county has seen two deaths due to the virus.

Locally, BHS continues to test patients daily. Through Thursday, BMH staff tested 788 people with 562 of those being tested at its outdoor facility.

Meanwhile, Clarion Hospital has tested 103 people at its outdoor facility.

Panther said both BMH and Clarion Hospital have surge capacity plans in place for all types of patients.

“Appropriate patient separation and infection control standards are in place,” she said.

Panther said BHS leadership and medical experts continue regular communication with county, state and federal officials. They are also communicating with the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, state Department of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Panther reported that additional personal protective equipment has been received. This includes but is not limited to donations from MSA through Highmark, Slippery Rock University and Butler County Community College.

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