Nursing Home COVID-19 Cases Nearly Quadrupled in Surge States

The spread of COVID-19 through nursing homes is not news for building services contractors (BSCs) and in-house cleaning staff working in these facilities. However, the extent of the spread is alarming. According to a recent analysis of federal data from The Associated Press (AP), COVID-19 cases nearly quadrupled among residents of nursing home facilities in 20 states with surging virus rates.

The AP data found new weekly cases rose from 1,083 at the end of May to 4,274 in late October. The states analyzed included: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming. According to AP, these states “were selected because they’re now seeing their highest hospitalizations rates for COVID-19.”

Additionally, the cases among nursing home staff increased from 855 at the end of May to 4,050 at the end of October. These findings are alarming “because infected staffers not yet showing symptoms are seen as the most likely way the virus gets into facilities,” AP reports.

Overall resident deaths in nursing home facilities more than doubled from 388 a week to 699, according to a study of the federal data, conducted by University of Chicago health researchers. The COVID Tracking Project found that nursing homes and other long-term care facilities currently represent 40% of COVID-19 deaths. Responding to these study findings, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) stated, “the bottom line is that the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on nursing homes is complex and multifactorial. Many times, the likely causes of nursing home outbreaks are simply nursing homes failing to comply with basic infection control rules.”

Data reported by nursing homes to the government raised other concerns:

• For the week ending October 25, about one in six nursing homes in surge states did not report having tested staff the prior week. Federal government requirements call for staff testing at least weekly in areas where the virus is spreading.
• During the same period, nearly one in five nursing homes reported shortages of basic protective supplies such as masks and gowns.
• Nearly one in four facilities reported a nurse staffing shortage.

Maintaining nursing homes to keep residents safe from infectious diseases is always a concern. Learn best practices for keeping long-term care centers clean and safe.