Pennsylvania's coronavirus policy for nursing homes turns deadly

The novel coronavirus in Pennsylvania has taken a devastating toll on nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Fatalities in these locations have accounted for 68.6 percent of all deaths in the state as of Tuesday, according to WJAC.

The state has been under increased scrutiny for their policies that some believe have only made the matter worse.

This month a consortium of Mid-Atlantic newspapers, under the USA Today network, detailed the policies in Pennsylvania and other states that are demanding nursing homes admit medically stable residents who have been infected with the coronavirus.

Spotlight PA—a partnership between the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Harrisburg's PennLive, also found evidence that the Pennsylvania Department of Health drafted a quick strike plan to safeguard nursing homes in March, but never followed through with it.

Some facilities have become death traps.

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the state due to lack of inspections after dozens of people died at Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County. Just this week, the state took over the facility as part of a negotiated agreement, and the National Guard was called in to help.

“I don’t think our initial and our continuing plans have been misguided at all,” said Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania Health Secretary on May 4.

Levine shrugged off the issue by saying all states have had difficulties with senior living facilities. This evades the fact that Pennsylvania has done a poor job.

Pennsylvania is also one of the states that has not released nursing home data. Leaders have fallen back on the excuse of state privacy laws.

“Really, it’s the responsibility of the facilities to be notifying loved ones,” Levine said April 29.

Changes were announced Tuesday.

Levine revealed that the stat would publicly release individual nursing home data, beginning next week. They will also make an effort to better monitor positive patients as well as make sure the testing of residents and employees is happening on a weekly basis.

But the question is why Pennsylvania has not been taking all these precautions from the outset.

“This effort will give us a clearer picture of the extent of outbreaks in nursing homes and a head start at stopping them,” Levine said.

Many have demanded Levine to take responsibility for the state's failings.

President Donald Trump criticized governors across the U.S. on Monday not doing better when it comes to nursing homes, and would consider requiring testing be mandatory in all nursing homes.

“I think it’s important to do,” Trump said.

Republican State Senator Doug Mastriano held a rally at the capitol steps on Monday, calling for Levine's resignation.

Levine did not comment about the resignation demand, though Governor Tom Wolf, defended her.

“She’s done a phenomenal job,” Wolf said. “I think it’s a tribute to her that Pennsylvania has actually done a better job than our neighboring states on infection rates and death rates.”

On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of Pittsburgh area state house representatives, led by House Speaker Rep. Mike Turzai, proposed a bill, designed to modify and enhance testing capabilities, infection control, and clinical practices in senior facilities with the help of public-private partnerships.

“In many ways, the state has failed those citizens,” Turzai said. “We have to get this done to save our seniors in these residences.”

Levine was asked by a reporter Tuesday about her own mother being moved out of a long-term care facility; Levine responded by saying she was allowing the wishes of her 95-year-old mother to move from a personal care home to a hotel.

OAN's Jack Posobiec is one among several people who have called for an investigation into Pennsylvania's handling of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, pointing out that the Secretary of Health has no problem moving her own mother out of the very same facilities she requires all other elderly people be sent to.