As schools across the nation open, the health and safety of students and staff remains a top priority amid the current pandemic. With that said, schools have been experiencing a large shortage in personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning products.
Therefore, health insurance company, Highmark, has decided to launch a program to provide more than 400 schools in Pennsylvania and Delaware with supply kits. To help ensure the safety and health of all returning to school, the tool kits will contain adjustable face shields for teachers and staff members, adjustable face masks for students, disinfectant hand wipes, one-gallon pumps of hand sanitizer, and signage advising best practices. The signage is available to all schools on the organization’s website, including those outside of Highmark’s coverage.
“We thought, how could we help the schools as they transition back to school? That’s when we came up with the idea of putting together for them a tool kit program.”
Anthony Benevento, Highmark’s Market President of Western Pennsylvania
Districts will have until December 15, 2020 to order the supply kits. Equipment will be distributed based on the student and staff populations at each school. Highmark plans to send letters to specific school districts under its coverage informing schools how to receive the supply kits.
The health insurance company covers dozens of schools in southwestern Pennsylvania, including most of the 43 districts in Allegheny County. According to Highmark spokeswoman, Emily Beatty, Highmark is working on another program to assist schools in West Virginia this year.
Information provided by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.