The New York Times is reporting that aged care residents make up a disproportionate number of the US’s 282,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with just 11% of cases in nursing homes but 54,000 deaths recorded among residents and staff.
A database compiled by the paper shows that as of June 26, the virus has infected more than 282,000 people at some 12,000 facilities.
At least 24 of the country’s 50 states have recorded 50% of more of their coronavirus deaths in long-term care facilities.
The median case fatality rate – the number of deaths divided by the number of cases – at facilities is also 17%, much higher than the national case fatality rate of 5%.
There are at least 12,000 long-term care facilities with one or more coronavirus case out of the sector’s 15,600 nursing homes – or 76%.
The high rates are leading some to call for an ‘end-of-life’ discussion on nursing homes – see this story.
