The statewide recovery rate for COVID-19 patients has risen all three days it has been reported, and restaurants are preparing for outdoor dining services.

The Department of Health has begun reporting a “recovery rate” daily along with its other tracked COVID-19 statistics.

On Tuesday, the first day of its reporting, the recovery rate was listed at 61 percent. On Wednesday, it was 62 percent, and on Thursday the rate rose to 64 percent.

According to the state Department of Health's website, the statistic is a calculation determined using a formula similar to one used by several other states.

If a case is more than 30 days past the date of a first positive test or onset of symptoms, then an individual is considered recovered.

In Wednesday's daily briefing, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said the statistic was requested by many residents and media outlets, and the state was responding in turn to those requests. She said at this time, the department does not have a county breakdown of recovery rates.

In an email Thursday, Nate Wardle, the Department of Health's press secretary, said the department anticipates that as the number of new cases decreases, the recovery rate should increase.

“This shows the prevalence of the disease in Pa. is decreasing, but also is a reminder of where we have come from, and a reason to continue taking prudent steps to protect yourself and others from the virus,” Wardle said.

Neither Gov. Tom Wolf nor Levine participated in a daily briefing Thursday. According to both offices, the pair is still expected to conduct a briefing Friday, which may also come with a new announcement of counties moving to green.

There has been no indication that Butler County will be included in the possible list of counties moving to the green phase of the governor's plan to reopen the state's economy.

Wolf issued an updated order Wednesday, offering businesses a better understanding of life in the green phase and updating some restrictions and liberties in the yellow phase. The guidance was made available on the governor's website.

Outdoor dining

There was specific emphasis on outdoor dining for restaurants, which will be allowed beginning June 5, but with limitations in place.

Customers dining outside must be seated and served at a table that is safely distanced from others. Inside dining and services are still prohibited as well as self-service stations, such as condiment tables, reusable menus and refillable containers brought in by customers.

The guidance also said that under the green phase, restaurants will be able to open with proper social distancing protocols in place, but they must operate at no more than 50 percent capacity.

Ryan Covert is an ownership partner in two local restaurants, the Hot Dog Shoppe and Snack-N-Pack, both of which are in Butler and operating as takeout only.

Covert said there are picnic tables set up outside Snack-N-Pack, but they are not used for outside dining specifically.

“We have picnic tables out there for people to sit at,” he said. “They're there for not only just people to eat at, but they're out there for people to have a place to sit down.”

The Snack-N-Pack restaurant hasn't had outdoor seating, but Covert said there are plans to bring out tables and seating that comply with COVID-19 constraints and allow people to enjoy meals outside.

“I think it's a great start for getting back to normal,” Covert said. “I pray for it to be soon that people can get back to living normal lives. It's very important for people to interact with each other and not feel alone.”

Covert said he has customers who drive long distances to eat at his restaurants, and it will be nice to have them sit down and enjoy themselves, rather than eat in the car or drive home to eat.

The following numbers on the coronavirus pandemic were compiled from the regular news releases from the state Department of Health figures.Thursday's COVID-19 statistics:Butler CountyConfirmed cases: 226Negative tests: 3,608Deaths: 12PennsylvaniaNew cases: 625Total cases: 70,042New deaths: 108Total deaths: 5,373Negative tests: 357,804Recovered: 64 percentSurrounding CountiesAllegheny: 1,851 confirmed cases; 28,956 negative; and 161 deathsArmstrong: 62 confirmed; 1,210 negative; and 4 deathsBeaver: 579 confirmed; 3,533 negative; and 72 deathsClarion: 25 confirmed; 667 negative; and 2 deathsLawrence: 74 confirmed; 1,267 negative; and 8 deathsMercer: 106 confirmed; 1,501 negative; and 4 deathsVenango: 8 confirmed and 496 negativeWestmoreland: 443 confirmed; 8,899 negative; and 38 deaths