Nursing homes around Indiana will be allowed to establish facilities specifically for coronavirus patients under an order issued Tuesday by the state health commissioner. The action came after state health officials said Indiana’s COVID-19 death toll had grown by 37 to 387.
Elderly people and those with serious health troubles living in nursing homes are among the most at-risk from COVID-19 infections. At least 46 residents of 12 long-term care facilities in Indiana have died from the virus, including 22 patients from an Anderson nursing home, according to the state health department.
READ MORE: Box: 15 Percent Of Indiana's Coronavirus Deaths Come From Care Facilities
But an attempt by a nursing home operator to concentrate coronavirus patients at a facility in the southwestern Indiana city of Washington met opposition from local residents and was banned by the county health officer. Officials in eastern Indiana’s Delaware County issued a similar order earlier this month.
Dr. Kristina Box, the state health commissioner, said she has worked closely with local health departments but the statewide order can help nursing homes protect residents who aren’t ill and better care for those who are infected.
“We fully believe that this is a necessary step to help to further protect the vulnerable residents in our 92 counties,” Box said.
The Indiana Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes, said in a statement that the state should help identify alternative treatment locations for COVID-19 patients and make sure long-term care workers have adequate protection supplies.
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