Residents of old people’s and nursing homes belong to the risk groups who should be particularly protected from infection with the coronavirus. This does not work in a New York facility. Almost 100 people die.
“It’s absolutely terrible.” With these words, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio commented on the situation in a nursing home in the city. 98 people died in the “Isabella” retirement home in Manhattan within a few days. reports the AP news agency. All victims are suspected to be related to the coronavirus. “It’s a priceless loss and it’s just impossible to imagine that so many people were killed in one place,” said de Blasio.
Whether the coronavirus outbreak in the old people’s home is the worst in the USA cannot be said due to the incomplete data situation. What is certain is that in the facility with 705 beds, 46 people verifiably infected with the coronavirus died by mid-week. A connection with the lung disease Covid-19 is “suspected” in 52 other deaths. Some victims died in the nursing home, others had been hospitalized for treatment.
Because the number of deaths rose so rapidly in a relatively short time and the funeral directors couldn’t keep up, those responsible were forced to order a refrigerated truck to store the bodies, according to the report.
Few tests and lack of staff
A spokeswoman for “Isabella” stated that the facility – like others – had to struggle with limited test resources at the beginning of the pandemic. “This limited our ability to identify those who were infected and asymptomatic, contrary to our efforts to quickly separate anyone with symptoms from others,” AP quoted in a statement. The old people’s home also suffered from a lack of staff, so that nursing staff were hired from outside. In addition, at the beginning of the outbreak there were difficulties in providing employees with the necessary protective equipment. The home is now getting better access to tests, the spokeswoman said.
Across New York, there are more than 3,000 registered deaths in care facilities linked to the coronavirus, according to the report. Of the 239 homes affected, at least six victims have 40 or more victims. Mayor de Blasio made it clear that the current situation could not last. “Something completely different has to happen.” The city tries to help as best it can. Thousands of respiratory masks have been delivered to the “Isabella” alone.
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