Jun. 12, 2020
HARRISBURG – The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee, led by Chairman Gary W. Day (R-Berks/Lehigh), convened to discuss COVID-19 testing in Pennsylvania’s long-term care facilities and the steps taken thus far to deal with the high incidence of coronavirus cases.
“The biggest obstacle our nursing homes and long-term care facilities have faced is obtaining the necessary safety equipment and providing suitable testing and training for facility staff members,” said Day. “Today’s meeting highlighted crucial strides that our National Guard and medical doctors made to ensure that these facilities are seeing improved health safety plans should positive cases be confirmed and that valid, conclusive testing methods are being used to track this virus and help contain its spread. This committee continues to investigate and gather data on the effects of coronavirus on our elderly community to aid in taking legislative action.”
Testifiers for this informational meeting include Lt. Col. John Peacock, Medical Corps officer, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, State Medical Detachment; Dr. Regina Lamendella, PhD, co-founder, Contamination Source Identification; and Dr. Nina O’Connor, PhD, medical director, Penn Medicine at Home.
In addition to this meeting, the Pennsylvania Department of Health issued a universal testing order for nursing homes as well as provided updated testing guidance for long-term care facilities earlier this week. Further information on this order and guidance
can be found here.
The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee will be hosting another informational meeting on Thursday, June 18, at 11 a.m., in G-50 Irvis Office Building, Harrisburg, to discuss personal protective equipment (PPE) in long-term care facilities during COVID-19.
Representative Gary Day
187th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abby Krueger
717.260-6617
akrueger@pahousegop.com
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