Nursing Homes Pressed on Infection Control as Covid Cases Soar

Coronavirus infections at the nation’s nursing homes are once again exploding as a national resurgence of Covid-19 in the greater community is wreaking havoc on elderly and disabled residents of the facilities.

After falling to roughly 6,319 reported cases at nursing homes at the end of June, the industry reported about 12,000 cases in July, Medicare Administrator Seema Verma told nursing home officials during a conference call Thursday.

Field observation suggests the problem is due to “significant deficiencies in infection control practices,” Verma said, such as improper donning and doffing of protective gowns and masks, improper hand sanitizing, and failure ...