HARRISBURG (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Governor Tom Wolf says his administration plans to begin testing every resident and employee for the novel coronavirus in nursing homes and other facilities caring for older adults.
He says the goal is to test every resident and employee once a week.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, PA Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levin explained, "By testing every resident and every staff member in every nursing home, we will be able to pinpoint exactly who has COVID-19, who has been exposed, but no symptoms, and cohort positive cases to prevent further spread."
Asked why universal testing hadn't occurred earlier, Dr. Levine said it was because the state didn't have the capacity.
The virus is reported to have killed more than 2,600 residents of nursing homes or personal care homes, roughly two-thirds of the state's overall death toll.
In addition, nursing and long term care centers will be required to report number of tests, causes and deaths, and those will be reported by facility starting next Sunday.
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