The state’s Secretary of Health is laying out her plans to stop the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. “By testing every resident and every staff member in every nursing home, we’ll be able pinpoint who has COVID-19, who has been exposed but doesn’t have any symptoms, and cohort possible cases to prevent further spread.”
Nursing homes have been hit hard by COVID-19. So far in Pennsylvania, there have been more than 2,600 long-term care residents who have died because of COVID-19. The state senate is also providing financial support to nursing homes.
The senate approved a $507 million support package that comes from the state’s share of the federal CARES funding. State Senator Scott Hutchinson serves on the Health and Human Services Committee.
“If you look at the numbers statewide, and nationwide, we have a tragedy going on in our nursing homes,” Hutchinson said. “And if you really think about it, if you have limited resources and limited testing, the ones you should help are the ones most at risk— and that’s the nursing homes.”
Nursing homes will receive a majority of the funding—getting $245 million.
“This bill provides essential funding for nursing homes and long-term care facilities as they work to meet the challenges created by COVID-19,” Sen. Hutchinson said. “We need to get this support out to these facilities and the dedicated men and women who work in them. They are true heroes in these uncertain times.”
