Coronavirus Risks in Nursing Homes
Coronavirus Risks in Nursing Homes
The novel coronavirus has altered our lives in numerous ways, and everyone has felt its direct effects. Residents of nursing homes, however, are not only one of our nation’s most vulnerable populations but also seem to be one of the most susceptible to the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Suppose your loved one has contracted COVID-19 while residing in a nursing home. In that case, it is imperative that you seek the professional legal guidance of an experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney as soon as you can.
COVID-19 Rates in Nursing Homes
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota recently shared an analysis conducted by the Wall Street Journal, which states that 43 percent of the COVID-19-related deaths in the United States have taken place in nursing homes (as of the date of the Journal’s data). The following two points from the analysis highlight the severity of the situation:
- The Journal has determined that the number of reported coronavirus cases and deaths from nursing homes is most likely underestimated due to the non-uniform reporting practices adopted by individual states.
- A significant portion of COVID-19-related deaths taking place in the U.S. is made up of nursing home residents. However, nursing home residents only make up around one percent of the U.S. population.
Some medical experts believe that routinely testing nursing home staff members for the virus could be the key to controlling the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes – presuming that asymptomatic staff members likely spread the disease to residents.
Serious Staffing and Equipment Shortages
Many experts in the medical and scientific fields believe that COVID-19 deaths will continue to be overrepresented in nursing homes. This overrepresentation is due to serious preexisting staffing shortages that the pandemic has further exacerbated, as well as the lack of available high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE), and staff-screening techniques that don’t take the high percentage of people who are asymptomatic into account.
Reason for Concern
Several states have given healthcare facilities like nursing homes a legal immunity from civil liability regarding COVID-19, except in those situations when gross negligence or intentional misconduct played a role. While intended to protect businesses from an overabundance of lawsuits related to the pandemic, this immunity does nothing to protect the health and well-being of the resident of these facilities. The push for legal protection for businesses is read by many as a shift in healthcare’s focus away from safe, reliable care and toward protecting healthcare workers from liability.
Consult with an Experienced North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney Today
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the U.S. hard, but there has been a disproportionate and detrimental effect on the residents of nursing homes. If a loved one is suffering from the symptoms of COVID-19 or has passed away due to related complications, the dedicated personal injury attorneys at King Law Firm in North Carolina have the experience, compassion, and drive to fight for the rights of you and your loved one. Your case is important, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at (855) 205-9689 for more information today.