By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Forty more cases of COVID-19 have been identified in long-term care facilities in Wood County.
The county now has 206 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 – with 158 of those being in nursing home facilities, according to the Wednesday, May 6, update from the Wood County Health Department.
Wood County Health Commissioner Batey warned on Tuesday that the number of COVID-19 cases in local long-term care facilities will increase with the ability to do more widespread testing in those sites.
“We do anticipate we’re going to see more cases in those facilities,” he said.
Six Wood County long-term care facilities now have cases of COVID-19 among residents or staff.
According to today’s numbers from the Wood County Health Department, of those 158 cases in long-term care facilities, 117 are residents and 41 are staff. Those numbers will be updated every Wednesday
The following facilities have cases:
- SKLD Perrysburg: 49 residents, 3 staff.
- Kingston Residence of Perrysburg: 43 residents, 15 staff.
- Kingston Rehabilitation of Perrysburg: 5 residents, 9 staff.
- The Manor at Perrysburg: 16 residents, 5 staff.
- Otterbein Perrysburg: 4 residents, 8 staff.
- Otterbein Pemberville: 0 residents, 1 staff.
The Ohio Department of Health listing attributed 22 deaths in Wood County nursing homes to COVID-19 since April 15. That puts Wood County among the counties in the state with the highest number of deaths in long-term care facilities.
The counties with the most COVID-related deaths in nursing homes were:
- Lucas County: 65
- Franklin and Mahoning counties: 46
- Cuyahoga County: 43
- Stark and Summit counties: 33
- Hamilton County: 30
- Wayne County: 24
- Wood and Lorain counties: 22
The Ohio Department of Health updates the numbers from long-term care facilities weekly.
Batey said last month that the nursing home facilities in Perrysburg with cases are working closely with Mercy Hospital in Perrysburg. The hospital is sending out teams to train staff and test residents and staff.
“We want to make sure we’re isolating everyone who needs to be isolated,” Batey said.
In April, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton signed an order requiring all nursing homes and residential care facilities in Ohio to notify residents and their guardians of positive or probable COVID-19 cases in the facility. The order includes cases involving residents and staff members.
The facilities are required to make notifications within 24 hours after the cases become known. The sites are also required to report on the steps being taken by the facility to reduce the spread of the virus.
The numbers posted on the Ohio Department of Health listing for long-term care facility cases are lower, because those numbers only go back as far as April 15. Wood County Health Department’s numbers go back as far as the first tests conducted in the facilities, according to Alex Aspacher, community outreach coordinator for the local health department.
Of the total 206 cases in the county as of today, those with the virus range in age from 1 to 100, with the median age of 69. Of the local cases, 125 are female and 81 are male.
The county has seen 27 people with COVID-19 die. Of those, 13 were females, and 14 were males. Three were in their 60s, nine in their 70s, 11 in their 80s, and four in their 90s.
