COVID-19 has proven most dangerous to elderly patients or those who have underlying health conditions. | stock photo
COVID-19 has proven most dangerous to elderly patients or those who have underlying health conditions. | stock photo
Michigan has traced 112 COVID-19 outbreaks to long-term care facilities, but the state has only seen five outbreaks linked back to bars.
MIRS News has been keeping track of outbreak data and reporting outbreaks in the state, creating a chart linking all the outbreaks back to their sources.
The MIRS News chart showed no outbreaks linked to bar customers, but five coronavirus outbreaks were linked back to bar staff. Long-term care facilities have a much larger number of outbreaks linked back to them, which could be partly due to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's executive order mandating these facilities to house healthy residents alongside patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Although these facilities are home to the most outbreaks in the state, Whitmer didn't retract her executive order, bur rather she closed all Michigan bars to inside service. She says she has been trying to protect senior citizens in nursing home and assisted living facilities since the virus appeared.
“From day one, I have taken action to protect seniors from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic,” Whitmer said in an executive order that was released Aug. 10, Michigan Capitol Confidential reported.
Whitmer's April 15 executive order required long-term care facilities to take in coronavirus patients. Whitmer has kept this policy in place as she continues to issue more executive orders.
"A long-term care facility must not prohibit admission or readmission of a resident based on COVID-19 testing requirements or results in a manner that is inconsistent with relevant guidance issued by the Department of Health and Human Services," the executive order states. While the facilities are required to accept coronavirus patients, the executive order also states they "must not accept the return of a COVID-19-positive resident if the facility does not have a dedicated unit or regional hub meeting the requirements of this order."
There have been over 2,000 coronavirus-related deaths of nursing home patients as of Aug. 11, Michigan Capitol Confidential reported. These patients were an average of 75.4 years old.
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