ARIZONA, USA — Deaths in Arizona among the most vulnerable population for COVID-19, according to health officials, continue to grow.
Nearly two-thirds of coronavirus deaths in Maricopa County center around long-term care faculties.
Over the course of a week, Desert Cove Nursing Center in Chandler said they went from finding out about their first case to confirming 40 patients and 13 staff have contracted COVID-19 and 4 people who live there have died.
“Residents of nursing homes, and skilled nursing facilities and assisted living are at the highest risk of severe complications from COVID-19,” Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, Maricopa County’s Medical Director said this week.
Desert Cove is down the street from Pennington Gardens and Avenir Memory Care, both of which have confirmed cases.
“There are other facilities elsewhere in the county that are in the same position. You don’t know who they are. I don’t know who they are,” John Scanlan, who’s wife is in Pennington Gardens, said.
Governor Doug Ducey ordered in March facilities take measures to screen people coming into these facilities, and in April, ordered them to take precautions to separate patients, and ensure staff wear proper PPE.
But now, according to data from Maricopa County Department of Public Health, more than 700 people connected to these facilities have contracted the virus in Maricopa County, and more than 100 have died.
Families and organizations have called for transparency from these facilities.
“This is just not right that we can’t be sharing this information,” Shannon Parys, who’s father contracted the virus while staying in an assisted living facility in Tempe.
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“Families deserve transparency,” Dana Kennedy, AARP Arizona’s State Director said. “We need to put patients and families first over facilities.”
But the county and state have continually said they’re not releasing that data.
“There is state law that requires me to protect people’s communicable disease information,” Dr. Cara Christ the Arizona Department of Health Services Director said.
Sunenshine said more positive cases in these communities will be coming.
“We know that as long as COVID-19 is circulating in the community and our healthcare workers are being exposed we know that we will continue to see some cases in our long term care facilities,” Sunenshine said.
Workers at facilities have expressed concern for their health and safety as well as the patients they’re caring for. Employees at Haven of Phoenix told 12 News they are being told to reuse their N-95 masks for 5 days. In between shifts, they say they’ve been instructed to put their masks inside brown paper bags and hang them on a clothesline.
“My concern going forward is that our residents are going to be severely affected,” one CAN said.
12 News is continuing to investigate cases in nursing homes around the Valley. If you or your loved one has a concern about a facility, reach out to us at connect@12news.com.
