COVID-19 Cases Up in Nursing Homes

COVID-19 Cases Up in Nursing Homes

HALF OF ALL DEATHS RELATEDTO THE VIRUS... COME FROMNURSING HOMES AND LONG TERMCARE FACILITIES.

THIS ISWHERE RESIDENTS AREESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO THEVIRUS.2 WORKS FOR YOU'S GITZELPUENTE.... EXPLAINS WHATCOULD BE BEHIND THISUPTICK..

AND DEADLYSTATISTIC.

GITZEL?A DOCTOR WHO FOCUSES ONHEALTHCARE OF OLDER ADULTSTELLS ME OKLAHOMA IS NOTUNIQUE IN SEEING A HIGHNUMBER OF CASES AND DEATHSCOMING FROM NURSING HOMES ORLONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES..IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THEU-S.DR. LEE JENNINGS FROM THEUNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA INNORMAn SAYS THERE COULD BE AFEW REASONS for THIS..INCLUDING THE TYPEOF FACILITY.

IN COMMUNALSETTINGS..

SHE SAYS IT'SEASIER FOR THE VIRUS TOSPREAD FROM PERSON TOPERSON.

THE CLOSE NATURE OFPHYSICAL CARE ALSO INCREASESTHE POSSIBILITY OFTRANSMISSION..

EVEN IF ASTAFF MEMBER IS WEARINGAPPROPRIATE PROTECTIVEEQUIPMENT.

IN OKLAHOMA..238 PEOPLE RESIDING AT ANURSING HOME OR LONG-TERMCARE FACILITY HAVE PASSEDAWAY FROM COVID-19..

WITHTULSA COUNTY HAVING THESECOND-HIGHEST DEATH RATE..AT 43.

SO HOW DO WE keepTHIS FROM GETTING WORSE?DR. LEE JENNINGS/OU MEDICINECHIEF OF GERIATRICMEDICINE: 2:59- 3:11 "Whenyou and I wear a mask to thegrocery store, we'reactually doing what we needto do to protect thosenursing home residentsbecause community spread ifwe're able to decrease inthe community we'll decreasespread in our facilitiestoo."VISITS AT NURSING HOMES WEREALLOWED TO RESUME ON JUNE15TH IN APHASED APPROACH AFTER ANEXECUTIVE ORDER FROMGOVERNOR KEVINSTITT..

BUT MANY FACILITIESCONTINUE TO ENFORCE STRICTVISITATIONGUIDELINES TO AVOID THESPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS.SADLY..

FAMILIES ARE HAVINGTO COPE WITH THIS NEWREALITY AS WE SEE COMMUNITYSPREAD OF COVID-19.

ONE OFTHE LATEST VICTIMS WHO LIVEDIN A NURSING HOME FACILITYIN TULSA..

PASSED AWAY FROMCOMPLICATIONS LAST WEEK.WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE IMPACT