Nearly half of all coronavirus deaths in US occurred inside nursing homes: report

Nearly half of all deaths from the coronavirus in the United States have occurred at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, according to new reports.

The rate of cases to deaths from such facilities has been disproportionate: while only 11 percent of positive cases – around 282,000 – have occurred at nursing homes and long-term care facilities, about 43 percent of deaths – or 54,000 deaths – have come from the same, the New York Times reported.

The Times cited its database for the numbers, arguing that some states and the federal government have not provided comprehensive data. The numbers are based on “official confirmations from states, counties and the facilities themselves,” as well as some data provided by the federal government, the newspaper said.

According to the data, the states with the highest number of deaths in nursing homes were New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania – all of which recorded more than 4,000 deaths in nursing homes.

Nursing home populations are at higher risk for infection and death from the coronavirus, experts have said. Even as the average age of infected populations has shifted lower, the average age of death has shifted higher.

Individuals with underlying health conditions are especially susceptible to infection, and the likelihood of developing such conditions increases with age. Additionally, the virus spreads more easily in confined areas, and the concentration of residents helps the virus spread even faster.

At the state level, the difference is even more pronounced, with some states seeing care facility residents and workers account for half of all deaths from the virus.

Think about that for a second:

*. Hospitals were empty, not generating any revenues.
*. The cost for a patient on a vent in an ICU for weeks is easily $75-100k a day.
*. Insurance companies are paying 100% of the costs.

Do you really think $39k per old person is going to make a dent into the hole in our medical system? I understand how that sounds like a lot of money. But to put it into perspective, the hospital where I worked is short $50 million in revenues for the past six months.

$39k is not the splash from a spit into the ocean of debt incurred. As the fiscal year ends this week look for hundreds of hospitals closing in the next 90 days.

Nursing Homes, Personal Care Homes, Assisted Living Facilities and similar are hardest hit. Many of them are hospitalized.

Second hardest hit are employees of these facilities.

Third hardest hit are family and close friends of these.

When there is a shortage of protective equipment, the doctor comes first, the RN second, the LPN third, etc.

The reality is that Black residents and Black employees of these facilities are hit harder than others.

Both sides need to face the facts. Coronavirus is a Pandemic in Nursing Homes and among those in contact with those in nursing homes.

One side comes up with a one-size-fits-all approach. Their understanding of democracy requires that everyone be treated equal, even though their medical risk is quite different.

The other side claims to be pro-life. But does not repsond with a pro-life approach, which would be an approach that saves the lives at risk. Because most people are not at risk is not a reason to avoid a targeted solution.

NY State Senator Jim Tedisco is doing something about it!

From Jim Tedisco’s email to his constituents:

“..Today, I am announcing new legislation that I?m introducing to establish an independent, bi-partisan state commission to fully investigate the deaths of 6,200 New Yorkers who died from COVID-19 in state-regulated nursing homes.

I?m also urging the New York State Senate and Assembly to quickly hold joint legislative oversight hearings on the COVID-19 related deaths in our state?s nursing homes as well as the disproportionate health effects of the pandemic on minority communities.

A March 25th order by the Cuomo Administration barred testing of the coronavirus for those being placed or returned to nursing homes.

According to ProPublica, ?If a hospital determined a patient who needed nursing home care was medically stable, the home had to accept them, even if they had been treated for COVID-19. Moreover, the nursing home could not test any such prospective residents ? those treated for COVID-19 or those hospitalized for other reasons ? to see if they were newly infected or perhaps still contagious despite their treatment. It was all laid out in a formal order, effective March 25. New York was the only state in the nation that barred testing of those being placed or returning to nursing homes.?

I first called for legislative hearings and an independent investigation into the Administration?s handling of COVID-positive patients being placed into nursing homes in early May. On May 28th, my Senate Republican colleagues and I put an amendment on the Senate Floor to direct $100 million from federal CARES Act funds to nursing homes, assisted living and adult care facilities to help purchase testing supplies, PPEs, as well as train and hire additional staff.

My new legislation would create a state commission to investigate what led to the March 25th executive order and look at the regulations and the oversight safety processes impacting New York State?s nursing homes leading up to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The bi-partisan Commission would consist of five members: one each appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, Assembly Speaker and Assembly Minority Leader, and chaired by an appointee of the New York State Attorney General. The Commission would be funded through the existing state budget for investigators and have subpoena power. A report to the Legislature of findings and recommendations for the future would be issued by November 30th.

I?m calling on every elected official and candidate running for office to speak out and support a fair and independent investigation into the thousands of lives lost because of the placement of COVID-19 patients in nursing homes.

My legislation takes the politics out of getting to the bottom of this terrible tragedy because this investigation would be overseen by bi-partisan appointees from both houses of the legislature.

We owe it to the families of those who lost their lives and the future safety of these facilities to get answers and help prepare for a second wave of the virus or a future pandemic. “

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