Lawrence Blasts Wolf Administration’s Inaction on COVID Testing

9/23/2021

HARRISBURG – Representative John Lawrence (R-Chester/Lancaster) recently called out the Wolf administration’s failure to address persistent issues related to COVID-19 test processing at the state laboratory.  

“We can all agree on the need for robust COVID-19 testing availability,” said Lawrence, speaking on the House floor. “But eighteen months after we first heard about the coronavirus, data released by the Department of Health shows that the Wolf administration continues to neglect the state laboratory.”  





Last September, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) called the Exton-based lab a “limiting factor” in the state’s coronavirus testing efforts, noting the facility could not handle newly ordered testing equipment due to a lack of space.  A recently released report indicates that a year later, DOH has done little to resolve the issue.           

“A year later, the administration still cannot find space to ramp up COVID testing?  Where are their priorities?” Lawrence asked, noting that Pennsylvania spends more to test racehorses through the Department of Agriculture than it does to process COVID-19 tests at the Exton laboratory.

Lawrence added that legislation will be introduced by the end of September to address the report’s findings.    

“It is unacceptable that the Wolf administration hasn’t taken steps to address these issues,” said Lawrence.  “I will introduce comprehensive legislation to address the state’s continued shortcomings on COVID-19 testing.  We need to get this right.”