Coronavirus: At least 53 US nursing care facilities battling Covid-19 cases, report says
Louisiana, New York and Georgia see the most facilities impacted across the country
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.At least 53 nursing care facilities are battling with Covid-19 cases across the United States, according to a report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Louisiana, New York and Georgia were the top three states in the US with at least seven nursing facilities in each location impacted by the novel virus, the report released on Sunday reveals, which compiled information from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The three states were placed in the agency’s top tier category for states dealing with outbreaks in nursing home facilities. The top tier means between seven to 25 facilities in each state are impacted, as of Thursday.
Another tier has three states – Washington, New Jersey, and Illinois – which report four to six nursing facilities with confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Then 20 states follow the top six with one to three facilities impacted by the virus. There are 24 states across the US with no confirmed or suspected Covid-19 cases in any nursing facility.
Nursing facilities are a concern for health officials who want to avoid a coronavirus “cluster” that could severely impact the elderly population.
Although Louisiana, New York and Georgia reportedly have the most facilities impacted with cases, there are more individuals within these nursing facilities who’ve contracted the virus in both Washington state and New Jersey.
Washington state previously was the epicentre for the virus in the US before New York’s case numbers largely surpassed the state.
In the state’s Kirkland Life Care Centre, it saw at least 35 deaths from the virus. At least 55 people have died in nursing facilities alone across the nation from the virus, according to the Washington Post.
Most people who contract Covid-19 will experience minor flu-like symptoms – such as fever, tiredness, and a dry cough – and will recover within two weeks.
But for others, specifically the elderly or immunocompromised, symptoms can be more severe and potentially cause death.
Keeping the virus out of nursing facilities is a concern for health professionals as they attempt to contain the spread.
Specific facilities experiencing outbreaks have prevented its residents from receiving visitors, or limited the number of visitors, to prevent more cases. Workers at some of the facilities are also ordered to wear personal protection equipment (PPE) when helping their patients.
Individual state governors, including Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, are encouraging people to avoid visiting family members in person at these facilities. Instead, video chats and phone calls are recommended.
On a federal level, the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services offered released guidelines on 9 March for how facilities should curb the pandemic that involved limiting visitors. Stricter guidelines were later released prohibiting visitors for all people within these facilities unless the patient is about to die. Communal dining and activities were also ordered to stop.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments