Covid-19 At PA State Hospitals

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Nineteen patients and 67 staffers at the Norristown State Hospital have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to data from the state Department of Human Services.
The facility, located in Montgomery County west of Philadelphia, is one of three state hospitals with COVID-19 cases.
The disclosure comes amid growing protests by the employees of Norristown facilities about the failure to protect employees and advise them of infection risks.
According to the report, 19 patients out of the 341 at the facility and 67 employees out of 776 have tested positive. The hospital serves as a long term psychiatric treatment facility.
At the Wernersville State Hospital in Berks County seven of the 262 current patients have tested positive, while 13 of the 580 employees have tested positive to the coronavirus. At Torrance State Hospital in Westmoreland County one staffer has tested positive, according to DHS data.
The agency reported that at other facilities under its supervision, including the division of youth services, no positive COVID-19 test results have been recorded.
A DHS spokeswoman said the agency has yet to compile the infection data at human services providers under contract with the state.
Meanwhile the death toll inched upward at six state veterans homes in Pennsylvania. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs said two additional deaths pushed the total to 14. Most of those deaths occurred at the Southeastern Veterans Center in Chester County.
She said 27 staffers have tested positive as have 21 residents.
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