Nursing home outbreaks are stable in the first week of the month

During the first week of more than a month, the active outbreak of new coronavirus in skilled nursing facilities throughout San Diego County has not changed.

However, the number of cases of residents of nursing homes exceeds 3,000, emphasizing the urgency of immunizing a very vulnerable population to COVID-19.

On Thursday, county public health officials reported 63 active outbreaks in skilled nursing facilities out of 151 outbreaks since the outbreak of the pandemic. The active outbreak of skilled nursing has increased since December 2, when county officials reported 26 active outbreaks when the Thanksgiving holiday surge began.

This is currently considered inactive, as one new outbreak as of this week and at least two weeks have passed since the institution tested positive for the new coronavirus. Includes one occurrence.

To date, 3,027 residents and 1,842 staff have been tested positive for the virus in skilled nursing homes throughout the county. County officials reported an additional 22 deaths associated with the outbreak of skilled nurses, reaching a total of 336 throughout the pandemic process.

Meanwhile, vaccination shots continue to be administered to vulnerable nursing home residents in care facilities throughout the county.

However, although vaccination began at a skilled nursing facility on 28 December and at an ancillary living facility on 11 January, there is still lack of transparency regarding the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine in both sectors. I am. Michael Connors, advocate of reform for nursing homes in California, said.

Nonprofits continue to hear about residents of both types of facilities that have not yet been vaccinated, but how widespread the problem is because California does not report state-wide or facility-specific data. Is not yet known.

“The surprisingly slow deployment of the vaccine puts the lives of many inhabitants at great risk,” Connors said in an email. “Since Thanksgiving, more than 3,000 California nursing home residents have died from COVID and dozens of people die every day. How many caregiver residents and staff are vaccinated, how many are vaccinated It’s not a mystery whether you haven’t received it. “

CVS Health, which works with 499 skilled nursing facilities and 14,557 backed living facilities throughout the state on Thursday night, will have the first round of vaccination clinics for skilled nursing facilities in California until January 25. Reported that it needs to be completed. 79,452 shots given to skilled nursing department residents and staff. This may include a second shot and 67,227 shots given to individuals in the life support department.

In a statement this week, the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation will encourage caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families to be vaccinated with COVID-19 when priority groups can sign up for appointments. I recommended it. Dr. J. Wesson Ashford, chairman of the non-profit medical, scientific and memory screening advisory board, said that people with the disease are often elderly and therefore have serious complications when infected with the virus. I write that the risk is high.

“Family caregivers cannot provide adequate care to their loved ones if their health is compromised,” Ashford wrote. “COVID-19 has brought great new challenges to families affected by Alzheimer’s disease, but vaccination is one step closer to the end of this horrific pandemic.”

According to this week’s report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, new coronavirus cases continue to grow at both the state and national levels.

As of January 10, 46,751 nursing home residents across California have tested positive for the new coronavirus. Of these cases, 6,565 died of COVID-19, according to CMS data. Nursing home residents were infected with the virus, and 107,107 died from the virus nationwide.