California finally reveals that at least 40% of its Covid-19 death tally is from nursing homes whose residents, sadly, are never found on beaches. Like other states California's nursing homes are Ground Zero for Covid-19 deaths-Sacramento Bee

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“Nursing homes have been ground zero for COVID-19,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma.”…Nursing homes will soon be required to report their COVID-19 cases directly to CDC. 

Tues., 4/28/20, “At least 40% of COVID-19 deaths in California are from eldercare homes, state reveals,” Sacramento Bee, Jason Pohl, via Tribune News Service on MSN.com 

“Residents of long-term care homes in California make up nearly 40% of the COVID-19 deaths in the state, new public health data shows, making skilled nursing and assisted living facilities by far the deadliest hotspots in the coronavirus pandemic. 

At least 578 nursing home residents in California have died of complications caused by the new coronavirus, according to state health department data published Tuesday, approximately one-third of all confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the state. [These numbers only “represent the 86% of nursing homes that reported in the last 24 hours. “As such, it is not a comprehensive count,” the state said, as article reports below]. 

Tuesday [4/28] was the first time California officials had released any numbers about deaths at nursing homes from COVID-19. The numbers could be higher because the current ones only include those “known by the facility” and might not include deaths that occurred after a resident was transferred to a hospital or private home…. 

Fewer than 11 employees at nursing homes have also died, according to the data. The state did not provide a precise number of employee deaths, saying only that the number was less than 11…. 

To date, slightly more than 1,800 Californians have died from COVID-19. The dramatic death numbers for long-term care facilities puts California’s eldercare facilities alongside other large states and Western Europe as the deadliest places to live…. 

The World Health Organization says up to half of all coronavirus deaths in Europe are in long-term care facilities.
Until now, California only knew how many COVID-19 deaths had occurred at nursing homes if county health officials chose to release the information or from news media reports…. 

While the majority of outbreaks and known fatalities are in Southern California, at least 38 nursing home residents have died in Santa Clara County, according to the county’s health department…. 

“We mourn the senseless, tragic loss of skilled nursing residents who have been victimized by a killer virus that targets innocent, elderly individuals,” said Deborah Pacyna, spokeswoman for the California Association of Health Facilities, which represents the majority of nursing homes in the state. “Our number one focus is the protection of our residents and dedicated staff and we need personal protective equipment and prioritized testing to fight COVID-19.”… 

The data about deaths appear to have been published Tuesday morning and represent the 86% of nursing homes that reported in the last 24 hours. 

“As such, it is not a comprehensive count,” the state said…. 

Nursing home representatives have long complained that they have been overlooked during the coronavirus pandemic. 

They say a lack of timely COVID-19 tests for nursing home residents and workers is making it difficult to detect case clusters and outbreaks. Medical workers in senior facilities are struggling to buy masks, gloves and gowns just like hospitals and government agencies. Nursing homes are expected to receive just $1.5 billion of the recent $2 trillion stimulus bill.”



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