Bacon's Rebellion

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COVID-19 Update: Eighteen More Nursing Home Deaths

—

by

James A. Bacon
in

This morning the Virginia Department of Health published the following COVID-19 data based on information reported yesterday:

Statewide deaths: 25
Deaths in long-term care facilities: 18

Seventy-two percent of coronavirus deaths involved patients in long-term care facilities.

Repeat after me: The COVID-19 epidemic is a nursing home epidemic. The virus may propagate itself through the population at large, but the primary impact, as measured by deaths, is taking place in Virginia’s nursing homes. That’s where public health authorities need to concentrate their efforts.

— JAB

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18 responses to “COVID-19 Update: Eighteen More Nursing Home Deaths”

  1. Steve Haner Avatar
    Steve Haner

    When we do this again in the fall, and sadly we might, one hopes a different mitigation pattern will emerge, based on evidence of what really is risky and what is not, who is really in danger and who is not.

  2. Lift Avatar
    Lift

    And proudly, Virginia is among 4 states comingling its testing data
    https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/21/health/us-coronavirus-thursday/index.html

    1. Steve Haner Avatar
      Steve Haner

      Was, but no longer is…..

    2. sherlockj Avatar
      sherlockj

      Rule by decree does have its “oops” moments.

      1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
        Nancy_Naive

        Rule by decree means never having to say you’re sorry.

  3. sherlockj Avatar
    sherlockj

    It is the Virginia Department of Health and the Board of Health that has failed us. Read:
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/virginia-department-of-health-and-the-staffing-of-nursing-homes/ and
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/virginias-nursing-home-regulations-non-compliant-with-federal-regulations-and-virginia-law/
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/things-you-need-to-know-about-nursing-homes/
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/virginias-nursing-homes-sources-of-data-and-ratings/
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/april-25-update-virginia-covid-19-testing-and-nursing-home-data/
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/virginias-understaffed-nursing-homes-open-letter-to-governor-northam/
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/race-injustice-the-northam-administration-and-the-viral-inferno-at-canterbury-rehabilitation/
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/open-letter-canterbury-needs-a-federal-audit/
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/vdh-responsibilities-regarding-nursing-homes/
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/why-was-canterbury-short-of-staff/
    https://www.baconsrebellion.com/the-canterbury-tragedy-and-the-failed-virginia-department-of-health/
    You will understand why the current system of nursing home inspections is failed and what needs to be done to fix it.

  4. Lift Avatar
    Lift

    Imagine we tested every Virginian today. What, exactly, would we do with those results?

    1. sherlockj Avatar
      sherlockj

      Exactly

      1. Lift Avatar
        Lift

        Actually, my question is earnest! Outbreaks (nursing homes, Hasidic community in New Rochelle) reveal themselves. The asymptomatic positives are probably the most worth tracking, but that might mean testing everyone again next week, and the week after. If I never manifest symptoms yet test positive, how long should I isolate? If there are bunch of positives who never get sick then isn’t is risk-off? If I test for antigen, will I be perceived to be a hazard because there is a question about the sturdiness/longevity of immunity?

        How would the data inform policy?

        1. Reed Fawell 3rd Avatar
          Reed Fawell 3rd

          I should have posted this earlier comment here:

          Lift-

          Your questions, of course, are all very good ones. Extremely good answers to those questions are found here:
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=289NWm85eas

    2. djrippert Avatar
      djrippert

      Assuming the results were accurate … isolate the positives and give those with antibodies an immunity card?

  5. Nancy_Naive Avatar
    Nancy_Naive

    The only meaningful testing would be a forced random test…

    “Congratulations, your household has been selected for COV2 random testing. Your household has been scheduled for an active virus and an antibody test. Your household must report to the WalMart parking lot for testing on…. Failure to appear will result in a 21 day quarantine.”

    1. CrazyJD Avatar
      CrazyJD

      And your point would be…

      1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
        Nancy_Naive

        The only meaningful testing would be

  6. matthurt92 Avatar
    matthurt92

    Not trying to be callous, but rather trying to place this in perspective. What was the death rate at nursing homes prior to Covid 19? I know in my part of the state (Wise County), folks have been dying at alarming rates in nursing homes for many years.

    1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
      Nancy_Naive

      One might even say, It’s the expect outcome.”

    2. sherlockj Avatar
      sherlockj

      Death rate of Americans is 100%. Lack of nursing staff to provide appropriate care has moved the point at which patients die in nursing homes forward by years. Nursing shortages are an ongoing, well-documented problem that had just awaited a pandemic, and we have one.

      1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
        Nancy_Naive

        Wait, is there a nation without a 100% rate? I’m emigrating.

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