65.5% Of MoCo Virus Deaths Come From Nursing, Group Homes: Data

SILVER SPRING, MD — More than half of Montgomery County's coronavirus deaths continue to come from its nursing homes, group homes, and assisted living facilities, according to state data released Wednesday.

Health officials have recorded 389 deaths in congregate living facilities across the county. Of those, 381 are residents and eight are staff. For reference, the death toll in Montgomery County now stands at 593.

That means 65.5 percent of those fatalities were in nursing homes, group homes, and assisted living facilities.

To date, 2,322 residents and staff have contracted COVID-19 in Montgomery County, pushing the local case total to 11,924.

Across the state, there have been 54,982 confirmed coronavirus cases, according to health officials. At least 9,937 of them came from nursing homes and other assisted living facilities.

A total of 1,386 residents and staff have died from the virus, pushing the statewide fatality count to 2,519.

Here's a snapshot for the state:

Here's a snapshot for the county:

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At the onset of the pandemic, state and federal health officials said adults aged 65 and older are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from the new coronavirus.

To protect the state's most vulnerable population, officials have stepped up response efforts at nursing homes.

On April 5, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued an emergency order requiring facilities to create observation and isolation areas for residents and employees to wear personal protective equipment whenever they come in contact with a patient. The order also expedited all testing through the Maryland State Public Health Laboratory, officials said.

Later that month, Hogan doubled down on those efforts, ordering universal coronavirus testing at all nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

The Republican said all residents and staff must be tested — whether they're symptomatic or not.

In addition to universal testing, all nursing homes are now required to fully comply and cooperate with strike teams.

Statewide strike teams — which consist of Maryland National Guard members, state health officials, and doctors and nurses — are tasked with supervising virus testing, assessing equipment and supply needs, and providing on-site medical triage to nursing homes.