Nursing Homes Fined for Inefficient Infection Control Leading to Spread of COVID-19

Maryland inspection records reveal 64 nursing homes in the state failed to take sufficient infection control measures, such as efficient cleaning and hand hygiene, to protect residents from the coronavirus, The Baltimore Sun reports.

State health officials say all 226 of the state’s certified nursing homes have now been surveyed. Ten of the facilities face significant fines of US$70,000 to $389,000. More than 130 senior living facilities have reported COVID-19 cases, with 14,932 cases total and 2,115 deaths — nearly three in five of all COVID-19 deaths in the state.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought nursing home infection control practices under the microscope, as most of the facility residents have underlying health conditions that make them susceptible to illness. Many nursing homes were already struggling to keep their residents healthy before the pandemic hit. Learn best practices for cleaning and maintaining senior care facilities to help stop the spread of infectious diseases.