The Wolf Administration requested additional support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Pennsylvania’s health care system in its continued battle against COVID-19.
“Our health care system is strained from COVID-19 cases and further exacerbated by persistent staffing shortages across the sector,” said Gov. Wolf. “Today, I outlined key areas that my administration, along with health care systems, believes would garner the most impactful support for our deserving health care professionals who have been on the front lines battling this pandemic for 22 months.”
Gov. Wolf outlined the following key areas to FEMA:
- Critical Staffing Support of clinical and non-clinical professionals across the commonwealth with the highest hospital utilization including:
- Hospital strike teams,
- Skilled nursing facility strike teams, and
- Ambulance strike teams.
- Continued Pandemic Response Support specifically focused on rural areas, regions with higher social vulnerability, and lower vaccinations rates including:
- 1 million rapid at-home COVID-19 tests, and
- Increased allocation of monoclonal antibodies.
“I want to thank the Biden Administration for their steadfast leadership in addressing the pandemic since taking office,” said Gov. Wolf. “I am hopeful that these critically important supports will be addressed to alleviate the strain on our health care system and ultimately be able to provide Pennsylvanians the care they need during this time.”