State long-term-care facilities’ resident virus deaths up 23.9%

The death toll from the new coronavirus now tops 1,000 victims at Florida’s nursing homes and assistedliving facilities, according to the latest available state report. There have been 1,032 resident deaths from COVID-19 since the outbreak began, with an increase of 199 deaths in the past seven days. That is a 23.9% increase for the week. It’s another sign that the disease continues to batter the places that serve a population that is most at risk from infections.

Florida has reported 2,232 confirmed deaths from coronavirus-related illness, and those at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities account for about 46.6% of those fatalities.

The state Health Department data shows 236 of these facilities have reported at least one death so far; 25 more facilities have had deaths since a week ago. From May 8-15, 177 deaths were reported in the facilities. Close to half of the deaths have happened in South Florida facilities, which, like others in the state, have been on lockdown for over two months.

There have been 263 longterm care facility resident deaths in Miami-Dade County, 121 in Palm Beach County, and 109 in Broward County, the state report shows. The figures also include two staff deaths in Miami-Dade and one staff death in Broward.

The hardest-hit nursing home in Broward is Manor Pines Convalescent in Wilton Manors, where 18 residents have died, according to the state report. Health officials have moved 33 residents with COVID-19 from Manor Pines to local hospitals, in an effort to stop the spread.

Nspire Healthcare in Lauderhill has had 15 resident deaths so far, an increase of four in the past week. A report shows 11 residents who have tested positive were transferred to hospitals, as required by the state.

The report on coronavirus-related deaths in Florida long-term care facilities is typically released by the health department each Friday. Another report shows at least 2,000 residents of the facilities have tested positive for infections.

The most deaths have happened at Fair Havens Center Nursing Home in Miami Springs. There have been 28 resident deaths, an increase of six in the past week.

Second on the list is Seminole Pavilion Rehabilitation and Nursing Services in Pinellas County, where 24 residents and one staffer have died.

According to the Florida Health Care Association, a trade group, there are 691 licensed nursing homes in the state with more than 84,400 beds, and 3,080 assisted-living facilities with more than 106,000 beds.