by Erin Elizabeth, Health Nut News:

Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, Beaver County’s largest nursing home, will now get support from the Pennsylvania National Guard to deal with its outbreak of COVID-19. Twenty-seven members of the Guard began training Monday morning to help facility workers.

Brighton Rehab is the site of the worst outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the state and one of the largest in the country, according to reports. As of Sunday afternoon, state data indicates that 319 residents had tested positive for COVID-19, including 71 who have died. At least 22 employees also have tested positive. About 70 percent of Beaver County’s positive cases and 91 percent of deaths in people with the virus are linked to the facility. The administrators said in a statement:

“Throughout this unprecedented crisis, we have called on the state to provide us with the critical resources we needed to combat this virus. We are grateful for the support and partnership of the National Guard and are confident that, together, we can protect our community.”

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Administrators said the Guard will help with general housekeeping tasks including cleaning, meal preparation and service, and daily living support like bathing and feeding, adding:

“While we continue to make positive strides in our efforts to control and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, support from the National Guard will allow our facility to get much-needed relief by permitting our nurses and aides to redirect their time and attention to the increasing health needs of our residents.”

Nate Wardle, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, said Sunday morning that the National Guard will be in place until May 18. He said:

“The facility has contracted to bring in additional nursing support from Texas beginning May 18. At that point the Guard will exit the facility. There will be a one-day hand-off between the National Guard and the additional nurse staffing.”

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