Scientists predict new virus strain will worsen U.S. infection spike
Scientists are raising concerns that new genetic strains of SARS-CoV-2 will spark renewed outbreaks in the United States at a time when cases are already spiking.
Outbreaks
Even amid COVID surge, many seniors housing operators not increasing move-in restrictions: NIC
Roughly two-thirds of long-term care organizations report that they have not increased move-in restrictions. Operators presumably are now more confident in infection prevention and creative, safe visitation protocols, observers say.
Coronavirus exposure protects healthcare workers for at least 6 months, investigators say
The presence of antibodies — a sign of previous coronavirus exposure — has been tied to a substantially reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 re-infection in hospital workers.
Feds pledge 30 million more coronavirus tests for 2021
The additional allotment will allow officials to keep providing Abbott BinaxNow tests to skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and other vulnerable groups through at least March, said HHS Assistant Secretary Adm. Brett Giroir, M.D.
Parkinson: Vaccinate all long-term care by March and slash coronavirus mortality 40 percent
A one-month delay “could result in more than 20,000 of our residents losing their lives when a vaccine could have saved them,” AHCA / NCAL leader Mark Parkinson said Monday.
Feds uncover coronavirus’s heavy toll on assisted living
As of Oct. 15, 22% of assisted living communities in 39 states reported cases of COVID-19 among residents and staff members. Rates ranged widely, from 1.3% of communities in Iowa to 93% of Connecticut facilities.
U.S. labs predict COVID test delays, cite surge in demand
Long-term care facilities soon may face longer waits for PCR test results as diagnostic laboratories reach or exceed testing capacity, lab reps say. The warning comes as U.S. COVID cases spike upward.
It’s official: Community pharmacies partner with feds for COVID vaccine distribution
Future vaccines will be available to community pharmacies through partnerships with network
administrators, HHS has announced. The public-private collaboration will help cover expected distribution gaps, stakeholders say.
Shared nursing home bathrooms, bedrooms tied to larger COVID outbreaks
Crowded facilities are more likely to experience larger and deadlier COVID-19 outbreaks, finds a study of 600 nursing homes in Ontario. There, 60% of residents live in shared rooms.
Nursing home COVID cases rise four-fold in surge states, resident deaths double, data shows
The rising weekly case count includes residents and staff in 20 states. Meanwhile, about one in six nursing homes did not report testing staff members in the prior week.
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