Pa. Senate committee holds hearing on virus and nursing home impacts

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HARRISBURG, Pa. - Even though the toughest coronavirus restrictions are being lifted in our area Friday, there's still a lot of concern about vulnerable people becoming infected.

The Pennsylvania Senate Aging and Youth Committee held a hearing Thursday on COVID-19's impact on nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Health officials, lawmakers, and health care providers joined in virtually.

Senators said many families don't have the resources to take their loved ones out of nursing homes. They wanted to know what Pennsylvania's Health Department is doing to help keep those relatives safe.

"What we did not have the ability to do is what we're doing now, which is this large population-based testing of every staff and every patient, to try and pick up those asymptomatic carriers that are bringing it into the facility in the first place," said state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine at the hearing.

State health officials say more than 4400 coronavirus-related deaths were in nursing homes. That's nearly 70% of the statewide death toll.

At least another 17,400 nursing home residents tested positive for COVID-19.

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Pa. Senate committee holds hearing on virus and nursing home impacts