More than 3,380 of the state’s 75,000 residents of long-term care, dementia and assisted living facilities have tested positive for coronavirus in New Jersey as officials continue planning a coordinated response to help those centers, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Thursday.
During the state’s daily coronavirus press briefing, Persichilli said 262 long-term care facilities, which includes nursing homes and veterans’ homes, are reporting at least one COVID-19 case.
Health officials are requiring facilities to isolate positive patients on separate units or floors, but some do not have the space, Persichilli said. Select facilities will soon be designated only for coronavirus patients, she said.
“We continue to work on a statewide plan to assist long-term care facilities that do not have the sufficient physical space to be able to cohort COVID positive patients on a separate floor or a separate wing,” Persichilli said. “I’ve been in contact with several facilities who are preparing to accept COVID positive patients only in locations in the North, Central and Southern regions."
Persichilli said inspection teams have been in contact with all facilities with positive cases and plan to visit some of them.
In total, New Jersey has at least 47,437 coronavirus cases, with 1,700 deaths, but long-term care facilities, with their elderly and vulnerable populations, have been hard hit. Of the 198 new coronavirus deaths reported Thursday, 20 were residents of long-term care facilities.
As the outbreak races through New Jersey, families have reported being unable to get timely, accurate information from nursing homes caring for their loved ones.
The state Department of Health recently issued a directive for nursing homes to notify staff, residents and their families about COVID-19 cases, with notices being sent out within 24 hours of learning of an infected person.
Understaffing at nursing homes has also become an issue, with employees either forced to call out with symptoms or afraid of bringing the virus home. Some facilities are using agency nurses are to fill staffing gaps amid massive call outs.
“The ability of the facility to be flexible and adapt is all strained right now,” said New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman Laurie Brewer. “We had a report from one facility where just one nurse showed up for a whole shift. She was providing care, administering meds and serving meals all by herself for one entire unit.”
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Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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