Coronavirus deaths nearly tripled in New Jersey’s nursing homes in December, while facilities that care for the state’s most vulnerable population continue to struggle to keep the virus out of its midst almost 10 months after the pandemic began.
At least 310 long-term care residents and one employee died of complications from COVID-19 in the month, a number of deaths that exceeded September, October and November together, according to an ongoing analysis of state data from NJ Advance Media.
The accounting came during a week of happy news for nursing homes, with the start of the expected vaccinations of residents and employees – a huge effort that Governor Phil Murphy compared to a “light at the end of the tunnel”, although it will be one that will extend until at least February.
In the meantime, COVID-19 continues to sweep many nursing homes, which already account for about 45% of New Jersey’s more than 17,000 confirmed deaths from coronavirus, a dismal number that puts them at the top of the nation in per capita deaths. Deaths increased despite infection control practices that are much more extensive than in the spring, and despite stricter testing requirements temporarily imposed by the state in late November to try to halt the spread of the reinvigorated virus on the premises.
The increase in deaths has affected all parts of the state, from large affiliated facilities to hospitals in New Jersey to a small nursing home in Warren County, where almost all residents apparently fell ill.
At Cedar Grove Respiratory and Nursing Center in Monroe Township, Gloucester County, 87 residents contracted coronavirus and 14 died in an outbreak that occurred after the facility was largely spared during the first wave of the pandemic, said its administrator, Yisroel Broyde. He said the 180-bed center, which includes the state’s largest ventilation unit, is home to the “most vulnerable of the vulnerable,” with seven of their deaths involving residents who were receiving end-of-life care.
Four residents remained hospitalized, Broyde said Thursday in a statement that praised his employees for their efforts to keep contagion under control.
“Two of our team members literally lived in the building for three weeks to help mitigate the spread of the virus,” said Broyde.
At a news conference on Wednesday, state health commissioner Judith Persichilli noted that more than 425 facilities have active coronavirus outbreaks, more than double the number from early November. She said the increase “certainly doesn’t make us happy”, while highlighting efforts by nursing homes to store protective equipment, isolate those infected and conduct regular tests for the coronavirus.
“We have PPE. We have cohort. We have a team, ”said Persichilli. “They are doing everything right, and the disease is still reaching long-term care centers.”
In total, from December 3 to 30, at least 111 facilities reported confirmed deaths from COVID-19, including 25 in which five or more residents died, found the NJ Advance Media review of the Department of Health outbreak lists. of that time, more than 5,600 residents and employees tested positive for the virus, an increase of 72% in new cases as of November.
At least 311 deaths compared to 45 deaths recorded in September, 65 in October and 111 in November. They happened during a month when the coronavirus hit New Jersey, with total deaths across the state reaching levels never seen since May.
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“Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases continue to increase in New Jersey as well as across America,” said Stuart Shapiro, interim president and chief executive of the New Jersey Health Association, which represents the nursing home sector. “Long-term care centers are reflections of the communities in which they are located, despite the increase in testing and other mitigation measures that the working team is taking.”
Seacrest Village, a 171-bed facility in Little Egg Harbor, Ocean County, was among nursing homes that reported an outbreak of new cases in December. He recorded 17 deaths in an outbreak that left 80 residents and 54 employees, according to the state. Seacrest employees did not return requests for comment.
In Warren County, eight deaths of residents have been reported at Clover Rest Home, a 33-bed facility in Knowlton. In total, 29 residents were infected in a home that federal data shows that there were 30 beds occupied at the end of November.
Clover Rest Home employees also did not return requests for comment.
The Department of Health does not make it easy for the public to monitor how the coronavirus is spreading in nursing homes. Although the department regularly maintains a list of facilities with outbreaks, these lists do not show whether a particular facility had an increase in cases over the previous list, and the department does not make archived versions available on its COVID-19 information panel for comparison.
To count increases in new cases, NJ Advance Media compared each list published in the past four months to capture whenever a home reported new deaths and new infections from residents or employees.
The Jefferson Health Care Center, a 190-bed facility in Washington Township, Gloucester County, recorded 11 deaths, in addition to four in the previous month, according to the state.
Nicole Pensiero, a spokeswoman for Jefferson Health, said the health facility routinely tests residents and staff for coronavirus, and follows safety protocols that include personal protective equipment, frequent hand washing and social detachment. She said the facility hopes to start administering the vaccines in early January.
“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on long-term care institutions worldwide,” said Pensiero in a statement. “We regret the loss of several residents of the Jefferson Health Center.”
In Hudson County, The Harborage had eight deaths, although a spokesman said they occurred over a two-month period beginning October 31. Seven of those deaths involved residents who contacted COVID-19 before being admitted, according to Hackensack Meridian Health, who runs the 247-bed nursing home in North Bergen.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with your loved ones and everyone who has experienced the devastating impacts of this pandemic,” said Ken Aber, senior vice president of post-acute care at Hackensack Meridian, in a statement. “Harborage has taken and will continue to take extensive precautionary and protective measures for its residents.”
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It is disheartening that the coronavirus continues to reach nursing homes, said James McCracken, who heads LeadingAge New Jersey and Delaware, which represents nonprofit care organizations for the elderly. He said the facility is optimistic that the vaccine will eventually allow them to overcome the situation, although it will take time for it to be sufficiently distributed.
“I know there was an increase in deaths,” said McCracken. “Certainly our members are doing everything they can to keep all residents and employees safe, but this virus is very difficult to control.”
With the increase in cases in the community, it is not surprising that deaths have increased in nursing homes, said Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist at Montclair State University. Given the asymptomatic spread of the disease, facilities remain at risk of having the virus introduced by employees and others who need to come and go, she said.
“When we have this really unrestrained and out of control community transmission, the canary in the coal mine will be nursing homes,” said Silvera.
This makes the state’s vaccination efforts a critical step in protecting asylum residents. On Wednesday, Persichilli said 539 facilities were scheduled to receive his first vaccines and more are expected to be added in the coming weeks. By the beginning of February, she said, the state predicts more than 109,000 residents and employees will receive vaccines.
Still, Silvera said, it will probably take until the end of February until the beginning of March before enough people in long-term care receive vaccines to establish the widespread immunities needed to slow the spread of the disease.
“The vaccine is very, very good news,” said Silvera. “But if we are talking about the light at the end of the tunnel, we are still a long way away.”
Correction: This post has been updated to correct the location of the Jefferson Health Care Center in Gloucester County, which is in Washington Township.
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Riley Yates can be reached at [email protected].
NJ Advance Media reporter Matt Arco contributed to this report.