PRLA ANNOUNCES NEW COVID TESTING PROGRAM FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS
New Partnership with Jefferson Health and Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia with Funding from William Penn Foundation
Harrisburg, PA (February 1, 2021) - The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Jefferson Health and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia to provide timely access to COVID-19 testing for Center City Philadelphia restaurants and their employees, with all costs reimbursed. This partnership was made possible by a grant provided by the William Penn Foundation.
The impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry has been devasting and well documented. To assist the City of Philadelphia’s recovery and ensure the vitality of the industry, restaurants need to be able to return to the business of feeding their communities. The impact of potential exposures is disruptive to both a restaurant operation and the employee who is waiting for results. This program allows City Center restaurants to offer timely access to COVID-19 testing for their employees, with all costs reimbursed.
Once a restaurant is registered for the program, employees who have a suspected exposure to COVID-19 can be immediately evaluated by a physician using JeffConnect, the Jefferson Health telemedicine app, and promptly scheduled for a test near them at one of Jefferson’s area facilities. While testing costs are covered by the CARES Act, this program covers the JeffConnect visit. Eligible restaurants can apply to participate in this program at www.prla.org/PhillyTesting.
"This is an incredibly generous program that helps employees and operators alike. The industry has already secured regular biweekly testing for employees and their families. But if there is an exposure, the timing of those screenings may not always meet the needs of employees. This program eliminates the stress of finding a testing center with immediate appointments, waiting for results, not being able to work during that period of time, and most importantly worrying about infecting roommates or family members. Operators also benefit because the timing is more predictable, ensuring the continuity of their businesses and avoiding prolonged closure. Since restaurants have already been so negatively impacted by the pandemic, these programs are vital for creating confidence among team members and customers, which ultimately contributes to the recovery of our City,” shared Ellen Yin, owner of High Street Hospitality Group who worked behind the scenes with Jefferson Health, The Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the PRLA and William Penn Foundation to help facilitate this important program.
“The restaurant industry employs a diverse workforce experiencing very deep impacts as a result of restaurant closures,“ said Janet Haas, M.D., Chair of the William Penn Foundation. “We hope this program makes it easier for restaurant workers to access COVID-19 screening and testing. Ensuring that restaurant workers can safely return to work will help them, their families, and the hospitality sector as a whole move forward as soon as possible.”
“There’s no higher priority than safety during the pandemic, and safety begins with taking care of your employees,” said Jonathan L. Gleason, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Quality Officer for Jefferson Health. "Seeing a physician via JeffConnect is a fast and easy way to get the care you need. Screening and testing initiatives like these help keep our small businesses safe and open as we work together to bring COVID-19 to an end.”
About the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association
The PRLA strives to promote, protect, and improve the hospitality and tourism industries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PRLA conveys the unified voice of these industries to the Commonwealth’s citizenry and elected officials.
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Contact:
Stephanie Otterson
Director of Communications
(717) 963-8369
[email protected]