Noting continuing increases in the number of COVID-19-related deaths in care facilities that closed to the public, Senator Dan Laughlin is calling for increased monitoring of employees at those sites.
In a letter to the Governor, Senator Laughlin called for weekly COVID-19 testing of employees at nursing homes and extended care facilities.
“More than half of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 deaths involve nursing homes or extended care facilities. That is somewhat surprising considering that these facilities have been closed to visitors since the beginning of the stay at home order,” Senator Laughlin wrote. “As such, that raises a question as to whether transmission of the virus involves employees. Therefore, I strongly recommend that the Department require weekly testing of all employees who work in nursing homes and extended care facilities.”
Contact: Matt Azeles mazeles@pasen.gov