Gov. Tom Wolf announces initiative to increase COVID-19 testing, providing new job opportunities in public health sector

PA to create Commonwealth Civilian Coronavirus Corps

PA to create group called Commonwealth Civilian Coronavirus Corps that will employ people to expand testing ability in state.

PENNSYLVANIA - Gov. Tom Wolf announced a new service initiative Wednesday to support efforts this fall to increase testing, contact tracing and provide critical new job opportunities in the public health sector as Pennsylvania plans to safely reopen the economy and recover from COVID-19.

“Our highest priority remains protecting public health and safety, but we must also look ahead to see how we can address future needs. To reopen our economy to its maximum potential, we will need to boost our ability to contain this highly transmissible virus,” Gov. Wolf said. “The Commonwealth Civilian Coronavirus Corps will serve as a public service program that will expand our ability to conduct contact tracing and testing and mobilize Pennsylvanians to contain COVID-19.”

The Commonwealth Civilian Coronavirus Corps will partner with Pennsylvania’s existing testing and contract tracing initiatives, local public health agencies, community organizations, and the nonprofit community to expand. In addition, it will leverage resources to fund testing and contact tracing initiatives and explore creative ways to recruit experienced Pennsylvanians with healthcare and public health experience to support this initiative.

The Commonwealth Civilian Coronavirus Corps will also provide for opportunity for Pennsylvania to recruit and train COVID-19-impacted dislocated and unemployed workers into public service for contact tracing roles, which would address Pennsylvania’s health and economic needs.

“We have all made many sacrifices throughout this crisis and all we share a desire to move forward toward a healthier, safer and more prosperous future,” Gov. Wolf added. “Through this public service initiative, Pennsylvanians will have opportunities in the months ahead to join a collective effort to ensure that we emerge from this pandemic a stronger commonwealth.”

Pennsylvania's confirmed cases of the coronavirus reached 51,845 cases, with 3,106 deaths as of Wednesday morning.

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