Arlington Fire Department Continues to Assist Cities with State-Mandated COVID-19 Testing at Nursing Facilities

By Office of Communication

Posted on May 29, 2020, May 29, 2020

The Arlington Fire Department continues to assist Tarrant County cities complete state-mandated COVID-19 testing of all licensed nursing facilities.

The department, which successfully completed its testing of Arlington nursing facilities on May 21, has been asked to assist smaller communities with their required testing by Tarrant County Public Health officials. Arlington’s firefighters tested nursing facility staff and residents at a Crowley nursing facility on May 22 and then, partnering with the Mansfield Fire Department, conducted required testing at two White Settlement nursing facilities, one on May 27 and another today, May 29. 

Testing of one of the state’s largest at-risk population clusters is part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Report to Reopen Texas during the coronavirus pandemic. On May 11, Abbott directed that 100 percent of staff and residents in Texas nursing facilities be tested for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in accordance with White House guidance. Texas has 1,223 nursing homes, which when combined, have a population of residents and staff close to 250,000.

Costs associated with the required COVID-19 testing, overseen by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, is covered by the state. Results were reported to state and local health authorities.

For more information about the City of Arlington’s response to COVID-19, please visit www.arlingtontx.gov/coronavirus.