The money helps. The food is appreciated. But EMS Week's aim is for EMTs and other first responders to receive the thanks they seldom get.

“Our Emergency Medicine Technicians and staff have done such an absolutely fantastic job during this entire crisis,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, praising first responders Monday during her daily news conference. “They were doing a fantastic job before, but we owe them a debt of gratitude for their heroism and their bravery dealing with this crisis of COVID-19.”

During a news conference announcing the latest figures, Levine also offered praise to the state's EMS agencies.

State data showed Butler County saw no increase Monday after just one confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported over the weekend, bringing the total to 203 cases. The county's death toll remained at six, where it's been since April 21.

Lynn Curl, director of operations for Harmony EMS, said her staff showed bravery before the first cases of COVID-19 even reached the county. Curl said her team didn't let fears involved with the lethal virus stop them from their mission of saving lives.

“The biggest thing early on was we were doing it with a lot of uncertainty, and they didn't skip a beat,” she said. “I'm absolutely very proud of them personally, of all of them throughout this.”

Bruce Confer, chief of the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department, said his department's EMS unit has made a mark, even in its rural community.

“It's a very trying time, but we're still out there doing the best we can,” he said.

That department has been forced to cancel three fundraisers due to the pandemic — fundraisers which constitute nearly 90 percent of the department's operational funding, according to Confer.

While monetary donations are appreciated, Confer said what's more important is appreciating the people who risk their own health by taking risky calls.

“The main thing is, our people really appreciate a 'thank you,'” Confer said. “We need funds, but when you get that 'thank you,' it means more than anything.”

Curl said every first responder deserves a “thank you,” but seldom receives one in the line of duty.

“We don't get into it for the 'thank yous' and you don't get a lot of them normally,” Curl said. “In general, it means a lot. Especially now. This pandemic has really been a lot mentally, physically. It's been a lot to everybody in health care, not just EMS.”

President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week in 1974. It started Sunday and runs through Saturday.

In a news conference Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf also touted the staff of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for their efforts in response to COVID-19.

“PEMA is quietly affective,” Wolf said. “We know they are doing a good job when we don't hear much about them.”

PEMA Director Randy Padfield said PEMA has worked to address a number of concerns stemming from COVID-19, including increased numbers of people needing food assistance and increased need for medical surge facilities and testing for the virus.

Padfield commended his staff, but also first responders at all levels.

“This disaster crisis has been much different. All counties have been affected to some degree and have been actively engaged throughout the response thus far,” Padfield said. “Their tireless efforts and coordinating support at the county level are critical to having a safe, well-planned and well-executed response.”

Padfield also said the support of the U.S. National Guard's presence in Pennsylvania has been instrumental in their success, especially in areas of testing and nursing home staffing.

Col. Frank Montgomery, director of domestic operations for the Pennsylvania National Guard, said the guard supplied the equivalent of 3,500 days of staffing to 10 nursing homes statewide.

Montgomery said the National Guard still has a presence in five nursing homes, including in Beaver County's Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center, which saw a significant outbreak of COVID-19. He said the National Guard could be leaving Brighton in the next “day or two.”

“We are currently working there, but I believe in the very near term we will be done,” Montgomery said.

He said the National Guard has been utilized heavily in response to COVID-19, and personnel have responded positively to the cause.

“It's an honor for us to work alongside long-term care staff to serve this honorable population,” Montgomery said. “The bottom line is we live here, we train here, we serve here, we're proud to take care of our fellow citizens in need.”

Confer agreed, saying he is especially appreciative of health care workers. A captain in his department is a nurse, and he witnessed the long hours she has spent fighting COVID-19.

“They're on the front line,” Confer said.

The numbers at the front line have fluctuated over the past few weeks, but Butler Health System's Jana Panther said neither Butler Memorial Hospital nor Clarion Hospital has seen drastic increases of late.

Heading into the weekend, eight patients were seeking treatment at the hospital, one of whom was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

BHS reported Monday that number was down to just two patients being treated at the hospital with one patient still in the ICU.

According to Panther, the more Butler Memorial Hospital and Clarion Hospital see manageable numbers of COVID-19 cases, the more comfortable administrators are with reopening more services.

“Safe scheduling, distancing and many other precautions are in place,” Panther said. “Seek care when you need it, including preventive health services such as screening mammography and colonoscopy. Your doctor will assess your risk and advise you what is best for your health.”

The following numbers on the coronavirus pandemic are compiled daily from the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website and regular releases from Butler Health System.Monday’s COVID-19 statistics:Butler CountyConfirmed cases: 203Negative tests: 2,992Deaths: 6PennsylvaniaNew cases: 822Total cases: 63,056New deaths: 87Total deaths: 4,505Negative tests: 277,553Butler Memorial HospitalInpatients: 2Suspected: 1Confirmed: 1ICU: 1Total tests: 3,918Outdoor tests: 2,330Positive tests: 230Clarion HospitalInpatients: 1Suspected: 0Confirmed: 1ICU: 0Total tests: 808Outdoor tests: 603Positive tests: 29Surrounding CountiesAllegheny: 1,603 confirmed cases; 22,239 negative test results; and 143 deathsArmstrong: 58 confirmed; 960 negative; and 5 deathsBeaver: 517 confirmed; 2,710 negative; and 83 deathsClarion: 24 confirmed; 587 negative; and 1 deathLawrence: 72 confirmed; 978 negative; and 7 deathsMercer: 91 confirmed; 1,092 negative; and 2 deathsVenango: 8 confirmed and 371 negativeWestmoreland: 427 confirmed; 7,094 negative; and 32 deaths- The total number of cases includes confirmed and probable cases.- The total deaths and new deaths include only confirmed deaths, which is a person who tested positive for the virus before their death.