Coronavirus Cases and Deaths Spike at RI Nursing Homes - Up 44%
Saturday, September 05, 2020
The number of nursing home infections and deaths in Rhode Island related to the coronavirus continues to rise. Governor Gina Raimondo has been focused on schools reopening without a word about the number of cases and deaths at nursing homes.
On Friday, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) updated data for the first time in 7 days and the numbers showed a 44% increase week over week in nursing homes in the number of infections — rising from "45 to 49" to "65 to 69." RIDOH reports offer ranges for the number of cases and deaths when reporting data, rather than exact numbers due to federal privacy laws.
Nursing home deaths comprise 73% of all coronavirus deaths in Rhode Island -- a number that has decreased from nearly 80% in June.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOver the past two reports issued by the state, homes like Bannister House in Providence and Riverview Healthcare Facility in Coventry have been hit hard with the virus.
Bannister House (now, branded Bannister Center), which spiked at the end of July to 24-29 cases, has seen the number of cases drop to less than five, but during the month, the facility saw 10-14 deaths.
Rhode Island, overall, has the 6th highest per capita death rate in the United States.
The facility has also suffered more than 25 staff infections and one reported staff death.
New Hot Spots
A number of Rhode Island nursing homes are seeing an increase in cases over the past ten days. Riverview Healthcare Facility in Coventry has been hit the hardest with 20-24 active cases and that facility now has 10-14 deaths.
“We have seen some increases in cases in some facilities. In facilities that have had more than two new cases in the last two weeks, we are doing comprehensive, on-site infection control surveys,” Joseph Wendelken, Public Information Officer of RIDOH.
Brookdale South Bay in Wakefield saw cases jump from none in the previous reporting period to 15-19 cases.
And, Pawtucket Skilled Nursing & Rehab has seen reported cases increase from 10-14 to 15-19. That facility now has under 5 deaths.
There are now ten homes in Rhode Island with active coronavirus cases.
State's Response
Rhode Island health officials acknowledge the need for intervention and say they have provided resources to homes.
"And we have a Congregate Setting Support Team that can go on-site to help get infection control measures in place, if requested by the facility. (The Congregate Setting Support Team is compromised of people from the Rhode Island National Guard, working in partnership with RIDOH.)," said Wendelken.
"No homes have been closed, but we have scaled back visitation in some instances," he added.
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