Sauk Valley nursing homes report 51 new virus cases, 5 more deaths in the last week

There were 51 confirmed coronavirus cases and five more COVID-19-related deaths linked to nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the Sauk Valley in the last week, updated state data shows, revealing a notable decrease in both metrics as residents and staff are expected to receive inoculations starting this week.

As of Dec. 25, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting that 166 COVID-19-related deaths and 1,167 confirmed coronavirus cases have been recorded at 28 nursing homes and assisted living facilities across Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties since March.

The figures released Friday mark the fourth consecutive week of fewer than 100 new cases, and the first time since the week ending Nov. 6 that fewer than 10 deaths were reported in a week.

Both milestones are significant shifts in the virus’ course through long-term care centers, which have been epicenters of transmission and fatalities.

In Whiteside County alone, 530 cases and 82 deaths have been linked to 14 congregate care facilities since March.

The figures released Friday come as the coronavirus vaccine developed by drug manufacturer Moderna is slated to be administered to long-term care facility residents and workers across the state this week, after it was granted Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 18.

The Moderna vaccine was shown to be 94.1% effective after two doses 4 weeks apart. It requires less-intense refrigeration levels than the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, which must be stored at ultra-cold temperatures.

State officials have said the distribution and administration of the Moderna vaccine to care facility individuals will be managed by the federal government through contracts with the national drugstore chains Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy.

CVS in a news release last week said it would begin vaccinations Monday, and that it will be responsible for nearly 900 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across the state, with the potential for reaching 150,000 people.

“While we are beginning with long-term care facilities, we will eventually provide vaccines to the general public in our 10,000 CVS Pharmacy locations across the country in 2021 with more details to come,” the release said.

Gov. JB Prtizker at a news conference on Wednesday said that any long-term care facility resident or staff member who refuses to receive the vaccine during the initial round of inoculations will have to wait until the next phases of distribution, scheduled for 2021, to get another chance at inoculation.

“But as for now, I certainly want to encourage residents and their family members making decisions for them, and all the staff at those long term care facilities, to take advantage of the fact that those vaccines will be brought to them in their long-term care facility and made available to them nearly immediately over the next 4 to 8 weeks,” Pritzker said.

According to the IDPH’s vaccination plan, Phase 1A calls for health care personnel and long-term care facility residents to receive a vaccine.

IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said Wednesday that every eligible member of Phase 1A would be vaccinated before inoculations begin for members of Phase 1B.

The next group, 1B, includes people 75 and older and essential frontline workers outside the health care industry.

Injections at nursing homes and care centers will be done by employees hired by the drugstore chains, while vaccinations of the public could be administered by local public health department employees.

Of the people to contract the virus in the past week, 13 were staying or working in Lee County care centers, six were staying or working in Ogle County care centers, and 32 were staying or working in Whiteside County care centers.

Of the people living or working at long-term care centers and nursing homes who died from the virus in the last week, one was in Lee County, three were in Ogle County and one was in Whiteside County.

Identifying factors such as age and gender are not included in the data, which is updated weekly on the IDPH website.

Of the 28 facilities, 23 facilities have an “open,” or active outbreak, which the IDPH defines as a positive test result in the last 28 days.

No new active outbreaks were reported in the 7 days spanning Dec. 19 and Dec. 25.

While these numbers tell some of the story of how the coronavirus has impacted long-term care facilities, they do not tell the whole story.

Help Sauk Valley Media report on the pandemic across our area. We’re looking for nursing home administrators, workers, residents and family members who are willing to share their experiences with us.

Contact reporter Jeff Helfrich at jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com or 815-632-2590.