UPMC provides guidance on protecting the elderly as the state begins to reopen

Today, leaders from UPMC talked about successful measures taken to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in UPMC Senior Communities and gave guidance on keeping frail, elderly populations safe as the nation moves toward reopening.

Donald Yealy, M.D., chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, UPMC and University of Pittsburgh and

David A. Nace, M.D., M.P.H., chief medical officer, UPMC Senior Communities explained the health network's plans to protect the vulnerable, including strict visitation policies encouraging video chats and drive-by visits.

"As long as we have the coronavirus, as long as we have the flu, the issue is protecting those who are most vulnerable, particularly the elderly, and not halting every social interaction or driving or economy into a depression,” said Donald Yealy, M.D.

Doctors with UPMC say protecting the elderly will help drive down the death rate.