Pandemic deaths at Oklahoma nursing homes and other long-term care facilities hits "painful milestone"

Nov. 9--The COVID-19 death toll at Oklahoma nursing homes and other long-term care facilities has surpassed 500 as the second surge of the pandemic intensifies in the state.

Health officials reported in the latest epidemiology report that 516 residents from such facilities and four staff have died so far due to the coronavirus. More than 100 of the resident deaths have been since Oct. 1.

Hardest hit has been the Claremore Veterans Center, with 35 deaths, according to the report.

"Five hundred is a painful milestone to reach," said Steve Buck, president of Care Providers Oklahoma.

The trade association head cautioned that a reliable vaccine will not provide an immediate solution for the facilities.

"There will be those individuals who choose not to accept the immunization and there also will be visitors and others who choose not to. And so long-term care is going to have to continue to be at heightened vigilance," Buck said Friday.

"There's not a finish line where all of a sudden we will say: 'We're done.' It's going to be persistent as long as there's community spread. And what that means is we will need to continue to have help from both the federal and state government and also locally to make sure we're doing all we can to protect those residents."

The head of an association of not-for-profit aging services providers also called for more help to care for "our most frail and vulnerable."

"CARES Act funding for supplemental direct-care staff wages, infection control and ongoing testing of staff and residents is critical to reducing infection and death rates," said Mary Brinkley, executive director of LeadingAge OK.

"Even though residents and staff in long-term care are disproportionately impacted by COVID, they have received only a minute proportion of CARES Act funds in Oklahoma," she said.

The newest grim milestone comes a little more than seven months since a resident of Grace Skilled Nursing and Therapy in Norman became the first COVID-19 nursing home death in Oklahoma. The Norman home has had 11 more COVID-19 deaths since then.

It also comes even though restrictions still remain on visitations at the facilities.

The federal government is offering financial incentives to nursing homes that have had success curbing COVID-19 infections and deaths. It already has paid $6.4 million to nursing homes in Oklahoma.

Health officials released the latest epidemiology report Friday. It reflects the latest statistics on deaths and infections at state nursing homes and long-term care facilities as of midnight Wednesday.

At that time, 3,796 residents and 2,210 staff were currently infected, according to the report. Almost 5,000 other residents and staff were reported to have recovered.

Also hard hit have been the Bartlesville Health and Rehabilitation Community, with 20 deaths, and the Grove Nursing Center, with 16 deaths, according to the report.

Health officials reported the Norman Veterans Center also had 16 deaths but the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs reported Friday "30 residents have passed while positive with COVID"

"Through contract tracing we were able to determine an asymptomatic worker unknowingly brought it into the center," said Shane Faulkner, the public information officer for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs.

"We have determined this individual followed all infection control guidance and did not know they were positive when entering the facility. The Norman community is now seeing their COVID cases spike. When you have more people in an area testing positive, that increases the chances of someone unknowingly bringing it into a veterans center."

He said steps have been taken to mitigate the spread, including converting a wing into a COVID unit with negative air pressure. He also said the building is cleaned daily with disinfecting machines. He said residents and staff are tested weekly.

Health Commissioner Lance Frye spoke out again Sunday about the high rate of community spread in the state.

"We continue to urge all Oklahomans to take this highly contagious virus seriously and act immediately to avoid large gatherings, wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance to others. Together we can bring these numbers down and protect our friends, family and neighbors," he said.

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