The New York Times reports that since the early warnings coming in late February about impact of new coronavirus on elderly staying in nursing homes until the latest data reported on April 17, 2020, there has been at least 7,000 death across U.S. nursing facilities; and the toll is expected to rise. The news is shocking, saddening, devastating, but more so another big warning to act now in order to prevent the toll to go through an accelerated growth over the coming weeks and months. The latest article by The Wall Street Journal came out on April 22, 2020, claims the total number now surpassing 10,000.
At least 14 nursing homes in New York have been announced with coronavirus-caused death toll of 25 or higher, with one single facility reporting 55.
There has been devastating news of one nursing facility in New Jersey, with the latest coronavirus death toll at 70, as of April 19, 2020, whose situation came to known initially when, after receiving an anonymous tip, the police found 17 bodies in bags in a small holding room at the facility.
Even though here in California, situation might not be as bad as many other states, still the risk of coronavirus remains higher for elderly, and as such, nursing facilities, senior housing, and rehabilitation centers here in California are among the targets. For example, there has been reports of 15 death in nursing facility in Tulare County, 2 death in nursing facility in Orange Country, 6 death in nursing facility in Yolo County, among others.
Remember, even after the State lockdown is reversed, and even after businesses are back to normal, the health risk by the new coronavirus is going to remain with us, and we have to prepare to protect our elderly for an extended period of time post-lockdown, adapting to new norms in life. Until the time that a robust, verifiable, and accessible vaccine is available to the public, the risk of contracting the coronavirus would remain there for quite some time. As mentioned before in our older posting, keep your loved ones at home. It is always better if family members can be the caregivers in the interim, or otherwise if that is not possible, contact us at Redan Home Health to have us allocate our caregivers to take care of them.
Nursing facilities and rehabs should remain as the very last resort only and only if absolutely necessary. If keeping your loved one at a nursing facility remains the only option, you may want to check out the related reports on those California nursing facilities with coronavirus outbreak.
“Even after the State lockdown is reversed, the health risk by the new coronavirus is going to remain with us, and we have to prepare to protect our elderly for an extended period of time post-lockdown, adapting to new norms in life. Keep them home.“
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