Politics & Government
Officials Urge Montco Nursing Homes To Expand Coronavirus Testing
Complete testing of all patients and staff at nursing homes is the only way to get an accurate grasp on the situation, officials say.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Leaders in Montgomery County are urging the county's long term care facilities to do complete coronavirus testing on all residents and staff members, noting the pivotal nature of such exhaustive measures in limiting the spread of the virus.
Around 70 percent of the county's 233 deaths have occurred in nursing homes, local officials said.
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"We're recommending that every facility conduct complete testing so they can get a better handle on the situation," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said.
The advice comes after the county tested the entire inmate population and every staff member at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Prior to the mass testing, when testing was reserved for only individuals with symptoms, just four inmates had been confirmed positive. After the mass testing, 171 were confirmed positive, indicating that a huge number of individuals were carrying the virus and spreading it without knowing it.
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Implementing mass testing at the county's many long term care facilities and group homes is not a simple task, however. The facilities are under the purview of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and it's the state that must make that decision, provide supplies, and ensure that their standards are being enforced. These supplies, of course, are limited.
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Meanwhile, the county has put together what they've dubbed their Field Assessment and Support Team — nicknamed the "FAST Team." The group of public health experts and medical professionals has now visited 15 homes around the county to offer assistance, review infection control policies, help implement best practices, and instruct staff on the proper use of protective gear.
"We're here to help in any way that we can," Arkoosh added.
A total of 1,250 residents of Montgomery County long term care facilities have coronavirus, as well as 427 staff members, as of Tuesday afternoon.
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