By: JV Staff
Nearly 26,000 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19, the government reported Monday, as federal officials demanded states carry out more inspections and vowed higher fines for facilities with poor infection control, as was reported by the AP.
The partial numbers released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are certain to go higher, as only about 80% of nursing homes have reported. Also, the federal data does not include assisted living facilities, which some states count in their coronavirus totals, according to the AP report.
Monday’s report will add to the national soul-searching about the disproportionately high toll of the virus in nursing homes. It’s also likely to set off finger-pointing among federal agencies, state authorities and the industry over who is responsible for making things better. More than 60,000 people in nursing homes got sick as the coronavirus spread rapidly among frail residents.
AP reported that Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Seema Verma told reporters that hand-washing continues to be a challenge in some nursing homes and that many states — who are charged with determining compliance with federal standards— must double down on inspections. “There is no substitute for boots on the ground,” Verma said.
In New York City, a shocking report in May revealed that the Isabella Geriatric Center in Washington Heights had close to 100 residents who died of COVID-19 since the outbreak hit the United States in March.
According to a report in the Manhattan Times, local elected officials are seeking a full investigation after reports surfaced of the large number of residents who died there in the last few months.
The Manhattan Times indicated that a NY1 report on April 30 revealed that 98 residents at the 705-bed nursing home had passed away since the start of the pandemic. The deceased — which account for almost 14 percent of residents — either tested positive for COVID-19 or were suspected to have the virus.
On May 1, elected officials gathered outside the facility, which is run by nonprofit health system MJHS, to address the fatalities.
“We have said since the beginning of this pandemic that the city and the state need to work together to ensure that all nursing home centers have the resources and the supplies they need to prevent the spread of the virus,” City Councilmember Ydanis Rodríguez told the Manhattan Times. “The Isabella nursing home has been pleading for more protective equipment, increase in staffing, and access to testing for their seniors.”
Officials also questioned why the suspected death toll at Isabella is much higher than had been reported to the state, according to the Manhattan Times report.
According to the state Department of Health’s website, 13 coronarvirus deaths had occurred at Isabella as of May 1.
State Assemblywoman Carmen De La Rosa called Isabella “a beloved center in our community for decades” and said her office assisted the center with its needs for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
“We have all been shocked to learn via media reports that the numbers and situation being reported to us is inaccurate,” said De La Rosa. “While we will continue to assist Isabella through this pandemic for the safety of our neighbors, today we call for a full investigation as to what has occurred here.”
The Manhattan Times reported that in a statement to the media, Isabella acknowledged that 98 deaths had occurred either onsite or at the hospital, but refuted that it had reported inaccurate data to the state.
“From the beginning of this pandemic, Isabella has reported truthful and accurate data requested by the Department of Health. We have shared daily the number of confirmed and presumed positive cases at both the residence and hospital, including deaths,” the statement read.
