Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Please note: This report has been corrected. Temet M. Rao, MD 3 ; Dustin W. Currie, PhD 2 ,3 ; Eric J. Bardossy, MD 2 ,3 ; Lisa P. Oakley, PhD 2 ,3 ; Jesica R. Jacobs, PhD 3 ,7 ; Noah G. Reddy, MD 3 ; John A. Jernigan, MD 3 ; Margaret A. Honein, PhD 3 ; Thomas A. Clark, MD 3 ; Jeffrey S.
Coronavirus disease COVID can cause severe illness and death, particularly among older adults with chronic health conditions. Introduction of COVID into a long-term residential care facility in Washington resulted in cases among 81 residents, 34 staff members, and 14 visitors; 23 persons died.
Limitations in effective infection control and prevention and staff members working in multiple facilities contributed to intra- and interfacility spread. Long-term care facilities should take proactive steps to protect the health of residents and preserve the health care workforce by identifying and excluding potentially infected staff members, restricting visitation except in compassionate care situations, ensuring early recognition of potentially infected patients, and implementing appropriate infection control measures.
COVID can spread rapidly in long-term residential care facilities, and persons with chronic underlying medical conditions are at greater risk for COVID—associated severe disease and death.
Long-term care facilities should take proactive steps to protect the health of residents and preserve the health care workforce by identifying and excluding potentially infected staff members and visitors, ensuring early recognition of potentially infected patients, and implementing appropriate infection control measures. The patient was a woman aged 73 years with a history of coronary artery disease, insulin-dependent type II diabetes mellitus, obesity, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and congestive heart failure, who resided in facility A along with approximately residents who were cared for by health care personnel.
