Gov. Tom Wolf says that the state needs to use every tool at its disposal to prevent COVID-19 from spreading at a rate that would overwhelm the state’s healthcare system.

“The difficult decisions we make now will make it possible for the healthcare workers to manage this crisis as we see the full brutality of the virus in the coming weeks,” Wolf said during a press conference on Friday.

According to the Department of Health, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the state doubled since Wednesday. The department recorded 135 cases since Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 268.

A day after Wolf ordered businesses which are not “critical to sustaining life” to close their physical locations, he defended the decision in a virtual press conference.

Wolf said the move was needed because the virus is increasing at a rapid pace in the state, particularly in urban areas and all of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Wolf said he is acting in order to avoid having the virus overwhelm the state’s hospitals and health systems. Limiting exposure by closing business’ physical locations means that fewer Pennsylvanians will become sick at the same time, requiring hospitalization.

“We’re not going to do everything perfectly, but we’re going to do everything we can to prevent our hospital system from crashing like we’ve seen in other countries,” Wolf said.

Wolf announced that the state will start its own $60 million low-interest loan program for small businesses who are affected by his order, in addition to programs which are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Wolf said that it will be necessary for the federal government to pass an economic stimulus package once the crisis is over.

Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said her department has been helping hospitals statewide prepare for a surge of patients, looking at every option to add capacity to the hospital systems, including space, staffing, supplies of necessary equipment and standards of care for treatment.

She again emphasized that the best thing for Pennsylvanians to do to fight the spread of the virus is to stay home, as well as follow the CDC guidelines for handwashing, touching your face, and cleaning surfaces regularly.

Levine specifically addressed younger people who feel they may not be at risk for serious illness from the COVID-19 virus.

Levine cited data from the CDC which said 20% of all hospitalized COVID-19 patients are between 20-44 years of age. And in other countries, 50 percent of confirmed cases were people under 54 years of age.

“We are seriously concerned that individuals in the 20-44 age range are not heeding the message to stay home and are creating an unnecessary risk to themselves and others. This could lead to a significant impact on our healthcare system,” Levine said.