COVID-19 infections are up 77% in Florida long-term care facilities since Thanksgiving

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the state works to bring the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable residents in long-term care facilities, state health data shows that residents’ infections are 77% higher on Tuesday than on Thanksgiving, when many residents go home were allowed to go to their family.

Like other facilities in the state and county, the Ascension Living St. Catherine Laboure Place skilled nursing facility in Jacksonville has experienced outbreaks and deaths from COVID-19. On Tuesday morning, 140 residents and staff were the last in Jacksonville to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Nurse Claire Gino said she was given the vaccine to protect herself and the people she serves.

This year, the facility had eight residents and one staff member died as a result of COVID-19 complications, according to state health records.

Florida health officials continue to direct the first round of vaccinations to Florida nursing homes.

Florida Governor Ron Desantis had already had strike teams vaccinated residents and staff in more than 100 long-term care facilities in Broward and Pinellas counties, some of the hardest hit areas.

Receptionist Angela Smith was vaccinated with her 86-year-old mother at River City Rehabilitation on Friday. Smith joined the nursing home staff during the pandemic to stay close to her mother.

“It’s better than safe than sorry,” said Angela Smith.

Deaths are also on the rise.

According to statistics from the AARP, the number of deaths in nursing homes in Florida has doubled over the Thanksgiving holiday. But the rate in Florida was dramatically lower than the national average as COVID-19 infections were on the rise across the country.

Still, the rise in the death toll raised concern among attorneys who were also concerned about Christmas gatherings and other annual celebrations.

In the three weeks straddling the Thanksgiving holiday, the Florida nursing home death rate was 4.7 for every 1,000 residents – more than double the 2.3 mortality average recorded in the four weeks leading up to the holiday . The data was collected in part from statistics from the Centers for Disease Control. Nationally, the mortality rate during the holiday period was 15.3 deaths per 1,000.

Friday, the River City Rehabilitation Center in Jacksonville marked the first in the state to vaccinate seniors and staff through the CDC’s Pharmacy Partnership Program.

Heartland Healthcare System officials said their facilities in South Jacksonville and Orange Park will receive vaccinations via CFS the following Wednesday.

“We currently have 51 residents and 14 employees in Orange Park who will receive the injection. And at South Jack’s we have 45 employees and 63 residents. And they can, as I said, continue to sign up, ”said spokeswoman Susan Williamson.

Director of Market Development for the Heartland Healthcare facilities Jennifer Lanthorn said that, unlike the flu vaccine, the organization does not need staff to get the vaccine.

“Because the COVID vaccine is only approved for emergency use, we really don’t have the ability to enforce it to the level we normally could as an employer,” Lanthorn said. “We strongly encourage it. We hope we lead by example. We believe this vaccine gives us hope and an opportunity to enable more interaction, more family visits and more activities within the facilities here. There is currently no community dinner. There are no group activities. “

Signature Healthcare of South Jacksonville is one of many long-term care facilities in Florida to address COVID-19 outbreaks this year.

The facility is expected to start on Wednesday with the first of several rounds of vaccination. Brooks Rehab is expected to get his vaccinations next week.