Coronavirus Alternative Care Site In Delco Being Relocated

GLEN MILLS, PA — The Alternative Care Site at the Glen Mills School in Delaware County is being relocated.

The site was prepared to serve as a regional medical facility for patients who had not tested positive for COVID-19, but who required treatment for low-acuity conditions if local hospitals were full treating COVID-19 patients.

It was established by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and set up by members of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, National Guard, and Delaware County Department of Emergency Services in March.

PEMA told Delaware County that a significant portion of the site will be relocated to East Stroudsburg.

Members of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and National Guard will begin breaking down the site in Glen Mills on Tuesday and then will relocate the site to a location in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County.

Delaware County, however, will maintain a 100-bed shelter at the Glen Mills School to serve as regional reserve.

The facility was set up to serve patients who can't be discharged to a long-term care facility, who are in non-critical need from critical care hospitals, who are stable in hospitals but are still too ill to be discharged, and serve as a standing medical station in case long term care facilities are evacuated.

Leaders of Health Care Systems in Delaware County have stated they are prepared and can currently handle the capacity of patients they are receiving and anticipate receiving. Local hospitals have received extra beds and ventilators.

"While we can’t become lax in our efforts to stay at home and follow the guidance on social
distancing and wearing masks, we can be reassured by knowing that our local hospitals are prepared," said Tim Boyce, Director of Delaware County’s Department of Emergency Services.

The Alternative Care Site was set up to be staffed by professionals from participating Health Care
Systems and supported by volunteers from across the region.

Delaware County issued a call for volunteers and within days hundreds of volunteers registered to serve.

"There was a need for volunteers to serve their community as we face this pandemic together and hundreds of Delco residents answered that call,” said Delaware County Council Chairman Brian Zidek. "This is yet another example of how Delaware County comes together when we need each other the most."