A tragic toll.
Despite only accounting for 11% of the United States’ COVID-19 cases, coronavirus deaths in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities now make up one-third (35%) of the country’s total coronavirus fatalities – rising to over 50% in 15 states including Maryland, Oregon and Colorado, according to a database compiled by the New York Times.
Over 150,000 people have been infected at around 7,700 facilities, it shows.
As we have covered, the Trump administration still has no published data on coronavirus cases and deaths at aged care facilities.
The Times’ data is based on official confirmations from states, counties and the facilities themselves – but given the varying availability of data, they conclude the numbers are likely higher.
We count over 1,000 facilities that have 50 or more cases.
The data comes as New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo reversed measures that saw COVID-19 hospital patients discharged into nursing homes.
The Governor also threw out guidelines that said homes could not refuse new or returning residents because they tested positive for the coronavirus – a policy that had been designed to free up hospital beds.
“We’re just not going to send a person who is positive to a nursing home after hospital visit,” Mr Cuomo said Sunday, adding that these patients will now be accommodated in temporary hospital facilities.
Mr Cuomo also announced homes will be required to test staff for coronavirus twice a week.
5,200 of the 25,000-plus COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes have taken place in the state.
