(Source: MIRS.news, Posted 12/202/2022) A significant winter surge of COVID-19 appears to be gaining a foothold in Michigan nursing homes and across the country, according to AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 dashboard.
Epidemiologic information provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also shows that COVID metrics are starting to increase in Michigan as are other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza.
DHHS’ latest statistics show that as of Dec. 8, 32% of Michigan counties are at medium or high COVID-19 community levels, with Dickinson and Menominee in the Upper Peninsula at “high” community level. COVID hospital admissions and pediatric COVID+ census showed an increase as of Dec. 13, according to DHHS statistics.
“We’ve seen a slow but steady increase in nursing home residents with a COVID-19 diagnosis dating back to spring,” DHHS spokesperson Lynn Sutfin said. “The various metrics we monitor wouldn’t suggest that we’re experiencing any major increase at this point.
“However, we are seeing many respiratory illnesses circulating in the community and a fairly early and severe cold and flu season, too, which should be taken into account when understanding the strain all this is placing on vulnerable populations and this network of health care centers,” she added.
Paula D. Cunningham, state director of AARP, which serves more than 1.2 million members age 50 and older in Michigan, stressed the importance of vaccinations for nursing home residents and staff as a way to stunt the increase.
“The bivalent booster is needed for full protection. Increased vaccination rates will help us mitigate this surge as we head deeper into the winter,” she added.
In Michigan, 40.1% of residents and 14.1% of staff were “up to date” on their vaccinations, according to AARP's statistics.
In most states, fewer than one-third of staff are “up to date” on vaccinations with California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico and the District of Columbia reporting staff “up to date” vaccination rates above one third.
DHHS’ COVID numbers, as of Dec. 13, show that 55,795 resident and 65,373 staff cases have been reported in skilled nursing, home for the aged and adult foster care facilities. The number of resident deaths is 7,133 and 107 staff.
DHHS will not update its data again until Jan. 4 due to the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The rate of resident cases nationwide is up 63%, and the rate of staff cases is up 70% in the week ending Dec. 4, compared to two weeks earlier, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID Data Tracker.
These numbers are the highest since early February, during last winter’s Omicron wave.
In Michigan, 40.1% of nursing home residents are up to date on vaccinations, according to AARP’s COVID dashboard.
