The partnership comes on the heels of Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement May 11 that all of Texas’ nursing home residents and staff members would be tested for COVID-19.
The testing is something McKinney Mayor George Fuller said earlier this month that the city had been asking for.
“Let's be proactive, not reactive,” Fuller said.
The department is planning to test the 200 residents and staff of Belterra Health and Rehab in McKinney on May 22, according to a news release from the fire department.
Costs associated with providing these tests are eligible for state reimbursement.
In addition to carrying out the first wave of testing, the McKinney firefighters and paramedics will help train other North Texas departments in COVID-19 testing in their own communities.
“The McKinney Fire Department is working hard to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially through nursing homes and similar facilities where people are most at risk,” MFD EMS Chief Charlie Skaggs said in the news release. “We hope our training will also help neighboring communities in their fight to protect residents.”
