The Park in Plano on May 22 was the first nursing home in the city to undergo this round of testing, Plano Fire-Rescue spokesperson Capt. Peggy Harrell said in an email.
The fire department did not have an estimate for how long it would take to test the residents and staff at the city’s various nursing homes, as the process is just getting ramped up, Harrell said.
The efforts are a partnership with state health authorities following Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement May 11 that all of Texas’ nursing home residents and staff members would be tested for COVID-19.
Costs associated with providing these tests are eligible for state reimbursement.
The American Health Care Association, a nonprofit that represents a number of health organizations, estimates that administering nearly 200,000 tests at all Texas nursing homes would cost roughly $29 million.
