COVID-19 Update: The Toll of Coronavirus on Nursing Homes, EPA Stresses Cleaning and Disinfecting

COVID-19 claims the lives of nearly 26,000 nursing home residents

A report released Monday by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revealed that nearly 26,000 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19, Associated Press reports.

The number of actual deaths is sure to be larger as only about 80% of nursing homes have reported to CMS. In addition, this data does not include assisted living facilities, which some states count in the coronavirus totals.

The report ads to already existing infection-control problems in long-term care facilities for the elderly. Federal officials have demanded that states carry out more inspections and set higher fines for facilities with poor infection control. However, state and nursing home industry authorities point fingers at federal agencies for being responsible for improving hygiene at nursing homes across the country.

CMS officials say that handwashing continues to be a challenge in many nursing homes. Improper handwashing protocols, along with inefficient cleaning practices and failure to isolate ill residents, have enabled the coronavirus to spread rapidly among frail nursing home residents, resulting in more than 60,000 confirmed cases. The virus has also taken a toll on nursing home staff; more than 34,400 staff members nationwide have contracted COVID-19 and 450 have died.

EPA Emphasizes Need for Continued Cleaning and Disinfecting

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reminding Americans to continue following proper cleaning and disinfecting protocols as the country begins to reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EPA has teamed with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to release updated guidance to help facilities and households properly clean and disinfect spaces. The agency also  has compiled a list of disinfectant products that can be used against coronavirus.

“As we reopen areas around the country, EPA encourages Americans to continue cleaning and disinfecting based on the guidelines we recently released in partnership with CDC,” said Andrew Wheeler, EPA administrator. “Proper cleaning followed by disinfection using products on EPA’s approved list continues to be an effective way to help reduce the spread of the disease.”