PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Wolf Administration Wednesday addressed the coronavirus-related support at Pennsylvania nursing home facilities and the need to continue that support into 2021.
Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller said over the past three months, the state has focused on reducing the spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable populations by focusing their efforts on nursing homes.
“More than 127,000 Pennsylvanians live in nearly 2,000 long-term care facilities,” she said.
The Region Response Health Collaborative or RRHC program, which was established in July, helps facilities manage the virus, Miller explained.
"So if cases are suspected or an outbreak is confirmed, assistance and resources can be deployed to stabilize the situation and help keep residents and staff at these facilities safe,” she said.
Senior Pennsylvania health advisor Keara Klinepeter explained that some of the functions of the RRHC program include testing and crisis staffing.
And while Miller said the program has been successful, there is a concern about whether it will continue into next year, as the program is ending Dec. 1.