COVID-19 has hit a Scioto County nursing home. The Scioto County Health Department announced the outbreak just before 10 am on Wednesday morning.
According to a brief press release, the outbreak involved both staff and residents. Previously, two staff members tested positive but there were no cases of patients. Up until now, only one nursing home resident in the entire county tested positive for COVID-19.
The Health Department didn’t give much information, simply saying, “The Scioto County Health Department advises that there is an outbreak of COVID-19 associated with Best Care Nursing and Rehabilitation in Wheelersburg, Ohio. The outbreak involves staff and residents. We are unable to provide information about individual cases due to privacy regulations. This is an evolving situation. If you have questions or concerns about residents, please contact Best Care at 1-888-508-9774.”
The Ohio Department of Health reported that 4 patients and 6 staff members currently have COVID-19.
Scioto EMA reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 overall in the county today.
Deadly For Nursing Homes
Most healthy people experience fairly mild COVID-19 symptoms, but the virus can be deadly for the elderly. So far, 3,708 Ohioans have died from COVID-19. Of those, 77% were 70 or older. Over 50% 2343 over 80. Over 70% of COVID-19 deaths and 25% of all COVID-19 cases are linked to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
The state stopped visits to nursing home patients to control the spread of the virus in the spring. Outdoor visits resumed at the end of July. Many family members complained that the emotional distress caused by separation from their families caused as much harm to the elderly as the threat of the virus.
By law, nursing homes are required to contact family members of their residents to inform them of any type of Coronavirus outbreak at a facility.
As of August 11, Scioto County’s COVID-19 count stands at 265. According to Scioto EMA, 71 of those cases are active. There were 61 new cases of COVID in the past week.