New Florida Order Requiring Testing of Long-Term Care Staff ‘A Welcome Step in the Right Direction’

AARP’s Florida Acting State Director Dionne Polite said today that a new state emergency order requiring coronavirus testing of long-term care staff every two weeks is a positive move by the state.

“This is a welcome step in the right direction,” Polite said. “It has been clear for some time that staff are the most common vector through which the coronavirus is getting into elder-care facilities.”

So far, more than half of all Florida coronavirus deaths have begun as infections in elder-care facilities among either residents or staff. Residents of Florida nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, independent living facilities and group homes make up about one percent of the state’s population, while staff at these facilities make up about another one percent.

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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.