DENVER – Health officials in Colorado have revealed in a newly released report that 57 nursing homes and 58 assisted living facilities statewide were experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, up from the 43 facilities of each type reported a week earlier.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment made the report public on Wednesday showing 10 of the current outbreaks in nursing homes and assisted living facilities involve 50 or more residents, and seven have recorded 10 or more deaths, The Denver Post reported.
Long-term care facilities were hit hard when the pandemic began in March and nursing home residents accounted for a disproportionate share of deaths.
Colorado Health Care Association CEO Doug Farmer said long-term care facilities are doing better now than in the spring, because they have more consistent access to personal protective equipment and testing. But still argued general community control of the spread will give those facilities a better chance.
“The risk there is primarily through staff who may be exposed in the community and then unknowingly – because oftentimes this infection, unfortunately, is asymptomatic, so we don’t have any signs to notice to stay home – those workers could potentially introduce that virus into a facility,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy.
New outbreaks surged in November, with 958 active clusters reported as of Wednesday, an increase of 223 compared with a week earlier, health officials said.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
