I was taught long ago that liquor has a way of magnifying something that’s already there. A truly happy person will becomes extremely jocular and gregarious when drunk. On the other hand, an innately unhappy person will become a mean or abusive drunk. America, safe to say, is in the midst of a heck of…
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.
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.
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.
Some clinicians are questioning the decision to authorize 700 mg doses of the intravenous drug rather than a higher dose that was effective in clinical trials. But Eli Lilly and federal health officials expressed confidence in the choice.
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.
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.
The agency clarifies that rapid antigen tests, “like all diagnostic tests,” are subject to false positive results, especially in low prevalence settings. It offers recommendations for administering the tests and interpreting results.
Industry advocates say it’s time for facility operators who have not made full use of rapid antigen tests to start doing so — before nursing home deaths begin to spike again. CMS must “take to the field” to help support these efforts, one expert contends.
The holidays are typically a busy time for long-term care centers, filled with special activities and extra visitors. Because of the pandemic, this year will be much different.
