More than 200 long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, in Georgia have reported COVID-19 infections, and concerned families are begging for help.
Leanne Liner spoke to Channel 2′s Tom Regan outside the Carroll County nursing home where her 92-year-old grandmother lives.
“It’s very devastating. You know she’s living in a facility and you’re not allowed to check on her,” Liner said. “She’s on oxygen full-time and now half of the facility is infected.”
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The Georgia Department of Health reported on Monday that of 80 residents at Carrollton Manor Nursing Home, 39 have tested positive for COVID-19. Five residents have died, and seven staff members have also tested positive. The entire county has just over 300 cases as of Tuesday morning.
“I’m not blaming the nursing home because no one knows what’s going on,” Liner said.
Infections have quickly spread across the state’s long-term care facilities. Of the 200 that have reported to the state, there have been 1,900 cases of patient infections, 295 patient deaths and 966 infected staff members, according to state records. That’s 3,000 of the state’s nearly 20,000 cases of COVID-19.
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Trace Thompson, an administrator at Carrollton Manor, says anyone who tests positive is moved into one wing with others who are infected. The facility is taking all recommendations from state and federal health officials.
“We are isolating them and using all the PPEs that you should, the gowns, face mask, shields, gloves and sanitizers,” Thompson said.
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Georgia National Guard members cleaned the facility just last week. There are more than 2,000 guard members working in various roles across the state, largely working to disinfect nursing homes.
Thompson said there is some good news: eight patients are coming out of isolation soon.
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