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1. Coronavirus
COVID OUTBREAKS HAVE LINGERED FOR MONTHS INSIDE N.J. STATE VETERANS HOMES
* Updated: Aug. 11, 2022, 6:18 p.m.|
* Published: Aug. 11, 2022, 8:31 a.m.
Veterans Day Candlelight Vigil held in Edison. Family members who lost loved
ones during the pandemic that decimated the veterans home in Menlo Park attended
the service. Wednesday, November 11, 2020. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
By
* Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home in Edison has been living with a COVID-19
outbreak since Thanksgiving week that has infected 45% of the workforce and
one-third of the residents, including 19 veterans who died, according to the
most recent state data this week.
An outbreak inside the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home began on April 27, but it
has surged in recent weeks, said Major Agneta E. Murnan, spokeswoman for the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. So far there have been 71 Vineland
residents — about 30% of the population — and 91 employees infected, and one
death of a resident, according to the state Department of Health’s website.
The third veterans home, in Paramus, has been the least affected by the outbreak
that began on April 11. So far, seven residents and 71 of employees have
contracted COVID-19 in the latest wave, according to state data.
The pandemic has decimated the three state-run nursing homes for veterans and
their spouses since it began in March 2020. The state has acknowledged more than
200 residents and employees have died.
But an attorney who represents dozens of families who have sued the state
suggests the number of fatalities may be as many as 240. The Murphy
administration in December paid out nearly $53 million to the families of 119
residents who died in the early months of the deadly outbreak to settle lawsuits
alleging gross negligence and incompetence. In court filings in May, another 69
families notified the state they intended to file a similar complaint.
As COVID cases swept through the buildings, the state belatedly sought emergency
assistance from the Veterans Administration and the National Guard, some
believe.
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage
The prolonged outbreaks at the three state-run nursing homes can be explained by
how the health department defines them, Murnan said. An outbreak is over once 28
days (two incubation periods of 14 days) have elapsed without any new cases.
“If there is even one new staff or resident case within 28 days of a previous
case, the outbreak is not considered to be resolved. As such, many of these
cases did not take place in recent weeks,” Murnan said.
By the health department’s definition, 69 residents and 195 employees have
tested positive at the Menlo Park home from Nov. 23 through Aug. 10, according
to the health department’s COVID data page.
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs does not report COVID cases the
same way. As of Monday, there was just one COVID case at Menlo Park among its
201 residents and five cases among its 431 employees, according to its website.
In Paramus, no residents are COVID-19-positive and four employees are sick,
according to DMAVA. The health department statistics say 7 residents and 69
employees have become infected since April 11.
In Vineland, there are seven residents and 10 employees sick with COVID, the
military and veterans website said. The health department says 70 residents and
89 employees have tested positive since April 27, according to the health
department.
“There has been a spike at the Vineland home in the past two weeks, concurrent
with an overall rise in cases throughout the state,” Murnan said. “The summer
months typically see an increase in residents’ participation in external
activities, day trips, and vacations with family members.”
The Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Service is aware of the
long-running exposure and is working “closely with local health departments and
these facilities to review their infection control practices and provide public
health recommendations,” health department spokeswoman Nancy Kearney said.
The Office of Long-Term Care Resiliency also checks in on each facility that
reports a new outbreak to discuss preventing the spread of the disease and
encouraging residents and staff to receive boosters, Kearney said.
At Menlo Park, 87.6% of residents and 99% of staff are vaccinated and boosted,
according to the health department website. At Vineland, 97% of residents and
96% of employees are vaccinated and boosted. At Paramus, 93% of residents and
100% of employees are fully inoculated.
Testing remains a frequent occurrence, and is mandatory for residents who leave
the facility, Murnan said. Military and Veterans Affairs “continues to monitor
the situation closely to protect the health of residents and staff,” she said.
An investigation is underway by the U.S. Department of Justice into whether the
number of deaths in the veterans’ homes had been understated, and whether the
state should not have allowed nursing homes to accept residents discharged from
the hospital after they were treated for COVID-19.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
—
NJ Advance Media Staff Writer Ted Sherman contributed to this report.
Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on
Twitter @SusanKLivio.
Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we
may earn a commission.
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