Gossips has wondered about the high mortality rate from COVID-19 in Columbia County. With 120 positive cases and twelve deaths, the mortality rate in the county is 10 percent. By contrast, the mortality rate in the entire state is only .5 percent. What accounts for such a high mortality rate? A statement from the Columbia County Department of Health today confirms that those dying from the coronavirus are the most vulnerable among us: nursing home residents.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MONITORS NURSING HOMES
County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said Monday that the Pine Haven Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center in Philmont experienced two additional COVID-19 deaths since Friday, bringing to 12 the number of deaths at the facility from the virus.
"The community should know that we continue to closely monitor the situation at Pine Haven, to the extent that, while we have limited testing kits, we consider nursing homes within the county to be a priority," Mabb said. "If a doctor determines that someone needs to be tested, we will test them."
Mabb explained that while the County Department of Health has no jurisdiction over the operation of private nursing homes, "Those are county residents and we will do all we can to try to keep them safe. I will say that Pine Haven has done an excellent job of getting its residents tested, and an excellent job of containing the virus."
On Friday, it was reported that there were 26 positive cases of COVID-19 at Pine Haven, an increase of four from the previous Friday.
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Does this mean every death in the county was at that location? I thought there were other deaths in the county outside Pine Haven.
ReplyDeleteThe Department of Health is reporting 12 deaths. Jack Mabb says 12 Pine Haven residents have died. What other conclusion can be drawn?
DeleteThe residents should be dispersed to area hospitals to be actively treated before their condition nose dives beyond repair. We should assume that most are infected being the dire situation. Waiting for a doctor's note is inadequate. By the time any one of the residents exhibit more severe symptoms, it's generally too late for a positive outcome. There's an OpEd by Dr. Levitan in NYT about this just posted yesterday. Just because there's not enough testing kits (Crazy!) shouldn't stall proper treatment for such a vulnerable population.
ReplyDeleteResidents in nursing homes are sitting ducks for infection from asymptomatic staff.
ReplyDelete