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Coronavirus deaths nearly tripled in New Jersey nursing homes in December, as facilities caring for the state’s most vulnerable population continue to struggle to keep the virus out of their midst near 10 months after the start of the pandemic.
At least 310 long-term care residents and one staff member died of complications from COVID-19 during the month, a death toll that topped September, October and November combined, according to an ongoing analysis from NJ Advance Media State Data.
The accounting came in a week of good news for nursing homes, as long-awaited vaccinations for residents and staff began – a massive effort that Gov. Phil Murphy has compared to a “light at the end of the day.” tunnel ”, although one that will run until at least February.
In the meantime, COVID-19 continues to sweep through many nursing homes, which already account for about 45% of the more than 17,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths in New Jersey, a grim figure that places them at the top of the country in terms of deaths from inhabitant. The deaths skyrocketed despite much more extensive infection control practices than in the spring and despite stricter testing requirements temporarily imposed by the state at the end of November in an attempt to stop the spread of the invigorated virus in the establishments.
The rise in the death toll has affected every part of the state, from large hospital facilities in New Jersey to a tiny nursing home in Warren County where nearly all residents were apparently ill.
At Cedar Grove Respiratory and Nursing Center in Monroe Township, Gloucester County, 87 residents contracted coronavirus and 14 died in an outbreak that came after the facility was largely spared during the first wave of the pandemic, declared its administrator, Yisroel Broyde. He said the 180-bed center, which includes the state’s largest ventilation unit, is home to the “most vulnerable of the vulnerable,” with seven of its deaths involving residents who were receiving end-of-life care.
Four residents remained hospitalized, Broyde said in a statement on Thursday commending his employees for their efforts to contain the contagion.
“Two of our staff members literally lived in the building for three weeks to help mitigate the spread of the virus,” Broyde said.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli noted that more than 425 establishments had active coronavirus outbreaks, more than double the number at the beginning of November. She said the increase “certainly doesn’t make us happy,” while highlighting efforts by nursing homes to stockpile protective gear, isolate those infected and test for coronavirus on a regular basis.
“We have PPE. We have the cohort. We have staff, ”Persichilli said. “They are doing whatever it takes, and the disease continues to enter long-term care facilities.
In total, from Dec. 3 to 30, at least 111 facilities recorded confirmed deaths from COVID-19, including 25 in which five or more residents have died, NJ Advance Media’s review of the ministry’s outbreak listings revealed. of Health. During that time, more than 5,600 residents and staff have tested positive for the virus, a 72% increase in new cases from November.
The at least 311 deaths compared to 45 deaths recorded in September, 65 in October and 111 in November. They came during a month in which the coronavirus hit New Jersey, with the state’s total death toll reaching levels not seen since May.
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“Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases continue to increase in New Jersey and across America,” said Stuart Shapiro, interim president and CEO of the Health Care Association of New Jersey, which represents the industry. retirement homes. “Long-term care homes are a reflection of the communities in which they are located, despite the increase in testing and other mitigating measures that hardworking staff are taking.
Seacrest Village, a 171-bed facility in Little Egg Harbor, Ocean County, was among the nursing homes that reported an upsurge in new cases in December. It has recorded 17 deaths in an outbreak that sickened 80 residents and 54 staff, according to the state. Seacrest officials did not return requests for comment.
In Warren County, eight resident deaths have been reported at Clover Rest Home, a 33-bed facility in Knowlton. A total of 29 residents were infected in a home which federal data showed had 30 beds occupied at the end of November.
Clover Rest Home officials also did not return requests for comment.
The Department of Health does not make it easy for the public to track the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes. While the ministry regularly maintains a list of establishments with outbreaks, these lists do not indicate whether a given establishment has seen an increase in cases from the previous list, and the ministry does not make archived versions available on its board. COVID-19 information panel for comparison.
To count the increases in new cases, NJ Advance Media compared every list released over the past four months to capture each time a home recorded new deaths and infections of residents or employees.
The Jefferson Health Care Center, a 190-bed facility located in Washington Township in Gloucester County, recorded 11 deaths, out of four in the previous month, according to the state.
Nicole Pensiero, a spokesperson for Jefferson Health, said the nursing home routinely tests residents and staff for the coronavirus and follows safety protocols that include personal protective equipment, frequent hand washing and social distance. She said the facility hoped to start administering vaccines in early January.
“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on long-term care facilities around the world,” Pensiero said in a statement. “We mourned the loss of several residents of the Jefferson Health Care Center.”
In Hudson County, The Harborage had eight deaths, although a spokesperson said they occurred over a two-month period beginning October 31. Seven of those deaths were from residents who had contacted COVID-19 before being admitted, according to Hackensack Meridian Health, which operates the 247-bed nursing home in North Bergen.
“Our hearts and hearts go out to their loved ones and to all who have suffered the devastating effects of this pandemic,” said Ken Aber, senior vice president of post-acute care at Hackensack Meridian, in a statement. “The Harborage has taken and will continue to take important precautionary and protective measures for its residents.
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It is disheartening that the coronavirus continues to find its way into nursing homes, said James McCracken, who heads LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware, which represents nonprofit elderly care organizations. He said facilities are optimistic that the vaccine will eventually take them a step further, although it will take time for it to be sufficiently distributed.
“I know there has been an increase in deaths,” McCracken said. “Certainly our members are doing everything they can to keep all of their residents and staff safe, but this virus is very difficult to manage.”
With the increase in cases in the community, it is no surprise that deaths have jumped in nursing homes, said Stephanie Silvera, epidemiologist at Montclair State University. Given the asymptomatic spread of the disease, establishments are still at risk of seeing the virus introduced by staff and others who have to come and go, she said.
“When we have this really rampant and uncontrollable community transmission, the canary in the coal mine will become the nursing homes,” Silvera said.
This leaves the state’s vaccination efforts a critical step in protecting residents of nursing homes. On Wednesday, Persichilli said 539 facilities are due to receive their first vaccinations with more to be added in the coming weeks. By early February, she said, the state expects more than 109,000 residents and employees to receive vaccinations.
Still, Silvera said it will likely take until late February to early March before enough people in long-term care have received vaccines to establish the widespread immunities needed to slow the spread of the disease.
“The vaccine is really great news,” said Silvera. “But if we’re talking about the light at the end of the tunnel, we’re still a long way off.”
Correction: This post has been updated to correct the location of the Jefferson Health Care Center in Gloucester County, Washington Township.
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Riley Yates can be reached at [email protected].
NJ Advance Media reporter Matt Arco contributed to this report.
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