After months of pressure from trade groups and media organizations, Indiana joined all its neighboring states this week and provided facility-level data for COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.
However, the release underscores the difficulty that public health officials have in gathering reliable data. Nearly one in five facilities have not submitted complete data to the state health department.
That’s despite an April state directive to do so.
Dr. Dan Rusyniak is the Chief Medical Officer for the state Family and Social Services Administration. He said the state will continue to work with the facilities not reporting data.
“We’re pushing for 100% of facilities to submit their data before the release of the public dashboard," he said. "We’ll continue to work with them to help them do so. This is a mandate and as such they are required to do so or face potential penalties.”
This release provides the first look at infections among nursing home staff. More than 2,500 staff members have been infected with COVID-19 and 12 have died.
Locally, nearly all long-term care facilities in Monroe County have recorded at least one case of COVID-19. At least three report at least one death.
Golden Living Center has the highest number at 104, following an outbreak in the facility earlier this month.
More than 5,800 residents in long-term care facilities have been infected with COVID-19, and more than 2,500 have died.
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