Federal officials to start tracking COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will soon start sending questionnaires to nursing homes and long-term care facilities in order to track confirmed and suspected COVID-19 coronavirus cases among patients and workers.
"It's fair to say nursing homes have been ground zero" for COVID-19, Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told reporters on Monday. The first COVID-19 hot spot in the United States was the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, where 43 people associated with the facility have died from the virus. In Massachusetts, 48 residents of a veteran's home died of the virus, while at least two dozen have died at a New Jersey nursing home and rehabilitation center.
Health experts say COVID-19 has been able to spread quickly through nursing homes, due to staff shortages, asymptomatic carriers, and elderly residents with multiple underlying health conditions. Federal officials hope the questionnaires will help them see trends and early signs of a COVID-19 outbreak, allowing communities to take action. Verma said the information will be made public, although the details of how and when are still being worked out.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Using media reports and information from state health departments, The Associated Press has found at least 8,496 deaths linked to COVID-19 outbreaks at U.S. nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Experts say the actual toll is likely much higher, with many patients never being tested for the virus.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Why does the U.S. need China's rare earth metals?
Today's Big Question Beijing has a 'near monopoly' on tech's raw materials
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
When did divorce begin?
The Explaine Couples have always split up, but the institution has undergone major changes over the years
By David Faris
-
What are your retirement savings account options?
The explainer The two main types of accounts are 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs)
By Becca Stanek, The Week US
-
RFK Jr. visits Texas as 2nd child dies from measles
Speed Read An outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease continues to grow following a decade of no recorded US measles deaths
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Shingles vaccine cuts dementia risk, study finds
Speed Read Getting vaccinated appears to significantly reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Measles outbreak spreads, as does RFK Jr.'s influence
Speed Read The outbreak centered in Texas has grown to at least three states and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is promoting unproven treatments
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
RFK Jr. offers alternative remedies as measles spreads
Speed Read Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes unsupported claims about containing the spread as vaccine skepticism grows
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Texas outbreak brings 1st US measles death since 2015
Speed read The outbreak is concentrated in a 'close-knit, undervaccinated' Mennonite community in rural Gaines County
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Mystery illness spreading in Congo rapidly kills dozens
Speed Read The World Health Organization said 53 people have died in an outbreak that originated in a village where three children ate a bat carcass
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Ozempic can curb alcohol cravings, study finds
Speed read Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may also be helpful in limiting alcohol consumption
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
New form of H5N1 bird flu found in US dairy cows
Speed Read This new form of bird flu is different from the version that spread through herds in the last year
By Peter Weber, The Week US