Coronavirus News: NJ nursing homes make up 40 percent of state's death toll

ByAnthony Johnson WABC logo

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

NJ nursing homes make up 40 percent of state's death tollAll of the state's roughly 400 facilities have at least one positive coronavirus case. There have been about 1,700 deaths at these facilities, or about 40% of the death toll.

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- New Jersey has begun posting data online on the state's nursing homes, which have been hard hit.

All of the state's roughly 400 facilities have at least one positive coronavirus case. There have been about 1,700 deaths at these facilities, or about 40% of the death toll.

The state's largest nursing home, which was at the center of news reports last week after police said 18 bodies were found in a makeshift morgue, is being required by the state to hire consultants in nursing, infectious disease and administration, Health Commissioner Judy Persichili said.

The Andover Subacute Reahab Centers 1 and 2 have had 39 COVID-19-related deaths, according to state Health Department data. That's tied for the highest death toll at a nursing home facility in the state. The other facility is the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus. It is on lockdown with patients being kept in their rooms with the door closed especially those with COVID-19.

The staff which now includes medics from the National Guard is conducting checks on the patients every half hour.

But families are worried about their relatives and getting information about their condition.

The state has been conducting investigations at these long term care facilities in light of the high death toll.

The state is facing a lot of questions when it comes to how long term care facilities reacted in this pandemic and what it can do to stop the spread from continuing or happening again.

Governor Murphy went for a tour of the field medical center set up at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

This is the third such site in the state with the others being at the convention centers in Secaucus and Edison.

These facilities are in place in case the hospitals get overrun with coronavirus cases.

The governor thanked the National Guardsmen who set up the Atlantic City facility, which he says is ready when and if the virus breaks out big in South Jersey.

(Some information from the Associated Press)