FORT BUCHANAN, Puerto Rico – The PRNG, in support of the government of Puerto Rico, is conducting COVID-19 tests in nursing homes for the elderly on the island.
“Reaching all homes and centers for the elderly is one of our most important priorities,” said Maj. Gen. José J. Reyes, adjutant general of Puerto Rico. “In the face of the monumental struggle that we face in this coronavirus pandemic, the seismic activity that continues in the southern area of the island and the arrival of the hurricane season, protecting our elderly and their caregivers has never been as important as it is now. The Puerto Rico National Guard is always present to serve them.”
PRNG teams continue to coordinate visits to reach the more than 1,000 nursing homes and centers around the island. In collaboration with Centers 330, military personnel continues to administer both the rapid test and the COVID-19 molecular test to residents and employees.
By Tuesday, the PRNG had visited 40 homes for the elderly and performed 4,242 COVID-19 tests (2,271 rapid tests and 1,971 molecular tests) to help prevent the spread of the virus.
The PRNG teams has scheduled visits to another 27 homes for the elderly in Arecibo, Bayamón, Caguas, Guayanilla, Juana Díaz, Manatí, Mayagüez, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, San Juan, Trujillo Alto and Yauco, where some 460 employees and more than 1,560 residents are expected to be reached.
“We want to impact the largest possible population of residents of these homes,” said Brig. Gen. Miguel Méndez, commander of the Joint Task Force in charge of coordinating the military response.
Méndez said nursing homes can schedule COVID-19 testing by contacting the PRNG call center at the Emergency and Disaster Management Bureau at 787-523-0802.