Coronavirus deaths nearly tripled at nursing homes in New Jersey in December, as facilities caring for the state’s most vulnerable population continue to struggle to keep the virus out of their midst for nearly ten months in the pandemic.
At least 310 long-term caregivers and one staff member died in the month from complications of COVID-19, a death toll that combined exceeded September, October and November, according to an ongoing NJ Advance Media analysis of state data.
The bookkeeping took place during a week of otherwise good news for nursing homes, as long-awaited vaccinations of residents and staff began – a major effort that compares Gov. Phil Murphy to a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, though one it will run until at least February.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 still goes through many nursing homes, which already represent about 45% of the more than 17,000 confirmed deaths in New Jersey, a grim figure that puts them at the top of the country in deaths per capita. Deaths have flown despite infection control practices being much more widespread than in the spring, and despite stricter testing requirements set by the state temporarily at the end of November to try to limit the spread of the renewed virus in the facilities.
The increasing deaths affected all parts of the state, from large, hospital-related facilities across New Jersey to a small rest home in Warren County in which nearly every resident appeared to be ill.
At the Cedar Grove Respiratory and Nursing Center in Monroe, Gloucester County, 87 residents contracted coronavirus and 14 died in an outbreak that came after the facility was largely spared during the first wave of the pandemic, Yisroel Broyde, administrator thereof, said. He said the 180-bed center, which includes the state’s largest fan unit, houses the “most vulnerable of the defenseless,” with seven of the deaths involving residents.
Four residents remained in the hospital, Broyde said Thursday in a statement praising his employees for their efforts to bring the infection under control.
“Two of our staff members literally lived in the building for three weeks to reduce the spread of the virus,” Broyde said.
Judith Persichilli, state commissioner for health, noted at a news conference on Wednesday that more than 425 facilities had active coronavirus outbreaks, more than double the number in early November. She said the increase certainly does not make us happy, while paying attention to the efforts made by nursing homes to store protective equipment, isolate those infected and regularly test for the coronavirus.
‘We have PBT. We have co-ordination. We have staff, ”said Persichilli. “They’re doing all the right things, and the disease is still coming into the long-term care facilities.”
In total, from December 3 to December 30, it was confirmed that COVID-19 had confirmed deaths, including 25 in which five or more residents died, NJ Advance Media’s review of the Department of Health’s outbreak lists found. During that time, more than 5,600 residents and staff tested positive for the virus, an increase of 72% in new cases from November.
The at least 311 deaths compared to 45 deaths recorded in September, 65 in October and 111 in November. They came during a month in which the coronavirus soared New Jersey, with overall deaths in the state reaching levels not seen since May.
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“Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases are rising in New Jersey as in America,” said Stuart Shapiro, the interim president and CEO of the Health Care Association of New Jersey, which represents the nursing home industry. “Long-term care centers are a reflection of the communities in which they are located, despite increasing testing and other measures taken by hard-working staff.”
Seacrest Village, a 171-bed facility in Little Egg Harbor in Ocean County, was among the nursing homes that reported a surge of new cases in December. According to the state, 17 deaths were recorded in an outbreak that killed 80 residents and 54 staff members. Seacrest officials did not return requests for comment.
In Warren County, eight deaths were reported at Clover Rest Home, a 33-bed facility in Knowlton. A total of 29 residents were infected in a home that, according to federal data, had beds by late November 30.
Clover Rest Home officials also did not return requests for comment.
The Department of Health does not make it easy for the public to detect how the coronavirus is spreading in nursing homes. While the department regularly maintains a list of facilities with outbreaks, the lists do not show whether a given facility has increased from the previous list, and the department does not make archived versions available for comparison on the COVID-19 information panel.
To count the increase in new cases, NJ Advance Media compares each list published over the past four months to determine when a home has recorded new deaths and new occupants or staff infections.
According to the state, Jefferson Health Center, a 190-bed in Washington Township in Gloucester County, recorded 11 deaths.
Nicole Pensiero, a spokeswoman for Jefferson Health, said the nursing home regularly tests residents and staff for the coronavirus, and adheres to safety protocols that include personal protective equipment, regular hand washing and social distance. She said the institution hopes to begin vaccination in early January.
“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on long-term care facilities around the world,” Pensiero said in a statement. “We deplore the loss of several residents of the Jefferson Health Care Center.”
In Hudson County, The Harborage, eight deaths occurred, although a spokesman said it occurred over a two-month period from Oct. 31. Seven of the deaths were among residents who contacted COVID-19 before being admitted, according to Hackensack Meridian Health, which operates the 247-bed nursing home in North Bergen.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones and all those who have experienced the devastating effects of this pandemic,” Ken Aber, Hackensack Meridian’s senior vice president of post-acute care, said in a statement. “The Harbor will and will continue to take comprehensive precautionary and protective measures for its residents.”
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It is discouraging that the coronavirus is still getting into nursing homes, said James McCracken, who heads LeadingAge New Jersey and Delaware, which represents nonprofit organizations for the elderly. He said facilities are optimistic that the vaccine will eventually turn them around, although it will take time before it is adequately distributed.
“I know there has been an increase in deaths,” McCracken said. “Our members certainly do everything in their power to keep all their residents and staff safe, but this virus is very difficult to manage.”
With cases increasing in the community, it is not surprising that deaths have skyrocketed in nursing homes, said Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist at Montclair State University. In view of the asymptomatic spread of the disease, the facilities pose a danger of the virus being introduced by staff and others who have to come and have it, she said.
“If we really have this unbridled, out of control community transfer, the canary in the coal mine is going to be the nursing homes,” Silvera said.
This leaves the state’s vaccination efforts a critical step in protecting residents of nursing homes. Persichilli said on Wednesday that 539 facilities would receive according to their first vaccinations, and that more are expected to be added in the coming weeks. She said the state expects more than 109,000 residents by the beginning of February and that staff will receive vaccinations.
Yet, Silvera said, it will likely take until late February to early March before enough people in long-term care receive vaccines to determine the widespread immunities needed to slow the spread of the disease.
“The vaccine is really very good news,” Silvera said. “But when we talk about the light at the end of the tunnel, we’re still a long way off.”
Correction: This message has been updated to correct the location in Gloucester County of Jefferson Health Care Center, which is in the Washington Township.
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Riley Yates can be reached at [email protected].
Matt Arco, reporter for NJ Advance Media, contributed to this report.