This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Sarah Boden covers health, science and technology for 90.5 WESA. Before coming to Pittsburgh in November 2017, she was a reporter for Iowa Public Radio where she covered a range of issues, including the 2016 Iowa Caucuses.
Sarah’s reporting has appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition Saturday and WBUR's Here and Now. She has won multiple awards, including a regional Edward R. Murrow for her story on a legal challenge to Iowa's felon voting ban.
This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The Department of Veterans Affairs is ramping up hiring for full and part-time positions throughout Pennsylvania to ensure hospitals are fully staffed in case there’s a surge of COVID-19 patients.
Medical workers are more likely to contract coronavirus because they have frequent contact with very sick COVID patients. Donald Koenig, director of Pittsburgh’s VA health system, said that’s part of the reason facilities are hiring as many registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants as possible.
“Many of them will be trained and be in a ‘standby’ situation,” he said. “We’ll bring them in to get comfortable. But we may not need to have them suddenly coming and working a 40-hour workweek until things unfold a bit.”
In addition to health care workers, the VA is also looking to recently laidoff hospitality workers to staff hospitals’ housekeeping, food service, and security departments.
“We can use every available hand to help sanitize, clean and disinfect,” said Koenig. “We think that’s a great opportunity for folks from the hotel industry. Same with hotel kitchen staff and hotel security staff.”
Another large health care system, UPMC, did not directly answer whether it needed to hire additional employees, but said it has, “plans for any scenario that will allow us to identify staff, skills, and needs to ensure that all staffing needs are met.” The health care provider also said that employees will continue to be paid at their current rate for normally scheduled hours through May 9, “Even if they are assigned to alternative work during their regular hours.”
Allegheny Health Network did not respond to requests for comment.
