With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the nation, it has become clear that nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are vulnerable. The state health department’s latest data underscores this, showing that nursing homes are experiencing a disproportionate impact.

“We know they face additional serious challenges,” Dr. Lyn Weinberg, director of Allegheny Health Network’s geriatrics division, said at a press conference Wednesday.

Noting that residents may not report “typical symptoms” or any at all, Dr. Weinberg said that facilities should continue to take measures to avoid the virus entirely by restricting visitors and stopping group activities.

“The major focus for these facilities at this time is being prepared and proactive in preventing the introduction of the virus into these facilities,” Dr. Weinberg said

The health department on Wednesday reported 58 new deaths due to the novel coronavirus, and at the same time reported 49 new deaths related to long-term care facilities like nursing homes — 84% of the total. It is unclear whether all of the nursing home deaths took place over the same reporting period as the 58 total deaths or whether some of them represent previous days’ deaths retroactively classified as related to long-term care facilities.

With the new numbers, the share of the state’s deaths that are tied to long-term care facilities rose to 52%. Some counties have seen large shares of their death counts in long-term care facilities. In Western Pennsylvania, for example, 90% of Westmoreland County’s 20 deaths have been in nursing homes, along with 81% of Beaver’s 47 deaths, 65% of Allegheny’s 74 deaths and all of Indiana’s 4 deaths.

The numbers for Westmoreland County are based on the state’s data. The county coroner reports 25 deaths.

“We all have to continue our social distancing efforts,” said state health secretary Dr. Rachel Levine when the state began releasing more detailed data on long-term care facilities and nursing homes a week ago. “The Pennsylvanians who provide care to this community and the residents in long-term-care living facilities need you to stay home to stop the spread of this dangerous virus, COVID-19, in Pennsylvania.”

In contrast to the death figures, a much smaller share of the state’s 35,684 COVID-19 cases have been in nursing homes. According to state figures, just 5,954 cases have been reported among residents and staff across the state — roughly 17%. Just two counties have more than half of their cases in nursing homes: Susquehanna County, with 67% of its 71 cases; and Beaver County, with 63% of its 317 cases.

All told, Western Pennsylvania has recorded 169 deaths, 112 (66%) of which have taken place in long-term care facilities or nursing homes. The region had 12 new deaths Wednesday of which nine, all from Allegheny and Beaver counties, were reported as being from nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

A number of deaths have been reported in local nursing homes. Most recently, Community Living Centers’ Glen Hazel facility is reporting three new deaths since Saturday. Seven of its residents have died as a result of COVID-19 in total. 57 facilities across Western Pennsylvania have seen at least one case.

Outside of Western Pennsylvania, 68% of Montgomery County’s 230 deaths, 66% of Lancaster’s 86 deaths, 65% of Chester’s 67 deaths, 63% of Lackawanna’s 57 deaths, 60% of Delaware’s 123 deaths, 58% of Berks’s 85 deaths, 57% of Luzerne’s 60 deaths, 57% of Bucks’s 126 deaths and half of Northampton's 44 deaths are in long-term care facilities. All of these counties are either collar counties of Philadelphia or in the hard-hit Northeast region.

In Philadelphia County itself, the largest in the state by population, 30% of the county’s 365 deaths were in long-term care facilities and nursing homes.

Dr. Weinberg said that even seniors who are not living in facilities should take steps to prepare for the future nonetheless, including considering the types of critical and end-of-life care they might want in the event of sickness, as well as learning to use technology to remain connected with family and friends during an extended quarantine period.

“During this time when we are physically distancing, we need to stay socially connected more than ever,” Dr. Weinberg said.

Here is the breakdown of nursing home data across Western Pennsylvania, including the number of affected facilities in each county:

• Allegheny: 33 facilities, 199 cases among residents, 69 cases among employees, 48 deaths (5 new since Tuesday)

• Armstrong: 1 facility, 1 case among residents, 0 cases among employees, 0 deaths

• Beaver: 3 facilities, 191 cases among residents, 11 cases among employees, 38 deaths (4 new)

• Butler: 3 facilities, 10 cases among residents, 9 cases among employees, 2 deaths (no change)

• Clarion: 1 facility, 1 case among residents, 0 cases among employees, 0 deaths (no change)

• Clearfield: 2 facilities, 2 cases among residents, 0 cases among employees, 0 deaths (no change)

• Erie: 2 facilities: 2 cases among residents, 0 cases among employees, 0 deaths (no change)

• Fayette: 1 facility: 3 cases among residents, 0 cases among employees, 1 death (no change)

• Indiana: 2 facilities: 11 cases among residents, 0 cases among employees, 4 deaths (no change)

• Mercer: 1 facility: 1 case among residents, 0 cases among employees, 0 deaths (no change)

• Washington: 3 facilities, 6 cases among residents, 2 cases among employees, 1 death (no change)

• Westmoreland: 5 facilities, 88 cases among residents, 23 cases among employees, 18 deaths (no change)

• Pennsylvania: 407 facilities, 5,337 cases among residents, 617 cases among employees, 845 deaths (49 new)

Kyle Mullins: kmullins@post-gazette.com.

First Published: April 23, 2020, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: April 23, 2020, 11:14 a.m.