The Department of Health expects Pennsylvania hospitals to see a surge in seriously ill patients due to the coronavirus, and are working with them to prepare.

However health officials are stressing that the ongoing mitigation efforts - including closing schools and nonessential businesses - is still critical to preventing the spread of the virus.

“We are preparing our health systems for the very real potential of many more seriously ill and critically ill patients than they would normally treat, but we have a real chance at slowing the spread of this virus if we all just stay home and limit our exposure to one another,” said Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health.

The governor extended mitigation efforts as of Thursday night.

All non-life-sustaining businesses are to be closed through the end of March in an effort to mitigate the spread of the virus. Levine said Thursday that the virus’s spread will determine how long the mitigation efforts will remain in place.

Levine said social distancing and mitigation are even more important because the virus is no longer contained just to people who traveled out of state to somewhere that the virus is widespread. She repeatedly told residents to “stay calm, stay home and stay safe.”

Levine said the state is very aware that these efforts have hurt the state’s economy, but that the human toll could be much worse.

“We know every business in Pennsylvania is so important and essential, but business participation in this strategy will literally save lives,” she said.

The Department of Community and Economic Development is providing advice for businesses that are unsure whether they should stay open during the business shutdown at 877-PA HEALTH (option 1).

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has been working with health networks to prepare them for a likely increase in seriously ill patients due to the virus.

Levine said they are encouraging hospitals to delay elective surgeries and admissions. The ultimate decision on any procedure is between a doctor and patient.

Rescheduling those patients will help conserve available hospital beds and personal protective equipment, which could become scarce if a large number of people get the virus. That includes regular hospital beds and ICU beds.

“All of that work to prepare for the likely surge of patients is occurring right now,” Levine said.

Levine said the Department of Health is working to add more ventilators, protective equipment and hospital beds. They have relaxed regulations to allow hospitals to add beds.

Levine said people who have a medical emergency should still go to the emergency room. For most patients, calling your doctor should be the first step. Hospitals are separating patients who believe they might have COVID-19 from patients with other emergencies.