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September 03, 2020 - Harrisburg, PA

Department of Health Updates COVID-19 Screening, Testing and Visitation Guidance in Skilled Nursing Facilities

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine released updated skilled nursing facility guidance that includes recommendations on COVID-19 routine (or, "screening") testing strategies for facilities not experiencing an outbreak, Compassionate Caregivers, access to facilities for resident advocates and a revised reopening timeline after a mitigated outbreak.

"We continue to practice a careful, measured approach in nursing homes so all staff and residents can safely welcome Compassionate Caregivers, in addition to visitors, and return to a more normal routine," Secretary of Health Dr. Levine said. "Our updates on testing and compassionate caregiving follow the recommendations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. We developed this guidance through collective input from stakeholders, interagency partners, industry leaders and facility representatives to allow safe caregiving, in addition to visitations with strong public health measures to balance the mental and physical well-being of Pennsylvania's most vulnerable residents."



<a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_001.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. <a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_002.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. <a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_003.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. <a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_004.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. <a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_005.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. <a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_006.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. <a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_007.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. <a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_008.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. <a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_009.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. <a href="https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/18245_DOH_Covid_Update_NK_010.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo<br></a>Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020.