Inspection reports show Life Care nursing homes violated federal coronavirus standards

Life Care Center.
(Image credit: John Moore/Getty Images)

Even after the United States' first reported coronavirus outbreak occurred at a Life Care Center nursing home in Kirland, Washington, nine of the chain's homes violated federal standards aimed at curbing infections, inspection reports obtained by The Washington Post show.

Government inspectors at the federal and state level reportedly discovered that some employees at the facilities did not wash their hands, sanitize equipment, or enforce social distancing guidelines.

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Life Care has said no amount of preparation could have stopped the virus' spread, and several caregivers told The Post they were overwhelmed during the crisis, which contributed to the lack of hygiene in some cases. One nursing aide, for example, said she found herself caring for 30 patients at once.

The Post notes there's no comprehensive data available to determine whether the rate of COVID-19 infections or deaths is higher at Life Care than other long-term care chains. Read more at The Washington Post.

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Tim O'Donnell

Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.