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This isn’t just about nursing home residents, it’s also about the workers

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Illinois

* Gov. JB Pritzker yesterday…

COVID-19 knows no county or regional boundaries. It’s clear that some people are simply looking at the number of cases in a county and not looking at the infection rate.

Of the top five counties by infection rate, two of them are downstate. In order, that’s Cook County, Jasper, Lake, Will and Randolph. Even more troubling, COVID-19 has played a role in the deaths of Illinoisans in 42 of our counties around the state. With the top two rates of death per capita being in Jasper County and Monroe County.

That means you’re more likely to die of COVID-19 if you live in either of those two counties than if you live in Chicago or in Cook County.

* Neal Earley at the Sun-Times followed up with some locals…

Local officials in both counties said Pritzker’s stay-at-home measures have hurt their local economies, forcing many small businesses to close. Government leaders in Jasper and Monroe counties point to outbreaks at nursing homes in their respective areas, saying the majority of deaths come from one source.

“I mean, I’m not trying to say that they’re not concerned about what’s going on at the nursing home, because they are,” said Brian Leffler, a member of the Jasper County Board. “That’s a bad deal, and everybody’s very sorry for it, but as far as keeping the whole county shut down because of it, I don’t know if that’s the answer.”

Newton Care Center nursing home accounts for 36 of 42 reported cases and two of the three deaths from the coronavirus in Jasper County, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. In Monroe County, Garden Place Independent & Assisted Living accounts for 29 of the county’s 64 reported cases and eight of the county’s 10 deaths from the virus. […]

Darrel Hickox, a member of the Jasper County Board, disputed the numbers from state public health officials, contending that “nobody” in Jasper County has died from the coronavirus.

He said that members of the media who report on the pandemic are “socialists, liberals and communists.”

“There has been some coronavirus here, but they was dying anyway,” Hickox said.

Aside from Hickox’ shocking inhumanity, he and others are missing the point, even though their point is pretty widespread.

* For instance, this is from Wirepoints…

The general public is even less at risk when you consider that nearly 35 percent of Illinois’ deaths came from retirement homes. A WBEZ analysis found that 625 of the state’s 1,795 deaths as of April 24 were nursing home residents.

Um, no. They weren’t all residents.

* From that referenced WBEZ story…

Those numbers include both nursing home residents and staff.

* And what about the Newton Care home in Jasper County? This is from last week…

Newton Care Center reported three dozen confirmed cases of COVID-19 last week among its residents and employees, a spokeswoman for the nursing home stated last week.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure we stop the spread of COVID-19 within our facility,” stated Holly Morris, vice president with Ide Management Group in a news release last week. “We currently have 26 confirmed positive COVID-19 residents and 10 confirmed COVID-19 employees.

And, of course, those employees don’t live where they work. They go home to their families after their shifts are over. They or their families may then go to the store or wherever.

Point being, this virus isn’t being confined within nursing home walls.

* And working conditions are so bad at some of those facilities that employees have voted to strike…

Thousands of nursing home workers across Illinois are set to walk off the job on May 8 because they say not enough is being done to keep them safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have asked for more PPE, enhanced safety protocols, hazardous duty pay and more transparency at work places about coronavirus cases regarding who has gotten sick and who has died.

Nursing homes have been hit hard with dozens of facilities across the state in the eye of the storm.

Members of the Service Employees International Union that represents 10,000 employees, such as certified nursing assistants, have delivered letters to management and owners to which they say their pleas have largely been ignored.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:04 am

Comments

“but they was dying anyway,”

Aren’t we all going to die anyway? What public servant they have on the Jasper County Board and a real humanitarian at that. Any chance he considers himself pro-life when he isn’t doing communist media interviews?

Comment by frisbee Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:09 am
That’s so important to keep in mind.

The medical personnel, the doctors and nurses, some working 12 hour shifts, others working every single day 10+ hours, there’s some disconnect when frivolous talk of “only” pertaining to “who” the victims are, and who can be infected, with symptomatic patients, and the asymptomatic folks unknowingly infecting victims, like at nursing homes, or in hospitals too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:10 am
Most everybody who works in a nursing home has been criminally underpaid since forever, but until recently, at least they weren’t putting their lives and the lives of their families at risk.

Comment by SAP Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:11 am
And let me add, and my apologies, those preparing meals in nursing homes, the janitorial staff, the administrative folks in nursing homes, there’s so many people effected in a nursing home, those taking care of the residents at all level of care.

My apologies.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:13 am
We need to build a wall around Jasper County and shut down all to or from Jasper County.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:15 am
Do they think the disease magically appeared in those nursing homes? The residents aren’t world travelers. If it’s in the nursing homes, its circulating in the communities.

The main reason it is not widespread and the local hospitals are not overwhelmed is that people are staying home (per the order).

One of the big problems (ironically) with a successful prevention campaign is that people don’t get sick. Some folks then take that as a sign that the original concern was invalid.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:19 am
People like Darren Bailey consider nursing home residents and staff to be expendable in their lust for liberty, freedom and 100 round magazines.

Comment by VerySmallRocks Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:24 am
==One of the big problems (ironically) with a successful prevention campaign is that people don’t get sick. Some folks then take that as a sign that the original concern was invalid.==

Well said. It’s one thing for the guy at the end of the bar to to think this way but when Governors and legislators and especially a President and Vice President think this way, it is deadly.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:26 am
It will become increasingly tougher to operate a nursing home in Illinois in the next few years. Erratic payments from the state and increasing state regulations mean that many nursing homes will simply shut their doors. Many are operating on a shoe string already, and have leveraged themselves to cover the state reimbursement system. They can’t endure too much more before they’ll simply close.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:26 am
I believe this is a fairly recent case in Downstate’s point:

https://www.pjstar.com/news/20200423/county-board-votes-to-close-heddington-oaks

Comment by Tynie Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:33 am
What is the Governor’s plan? Are we trying to slow the spread to not exceed healthcare capacity? Or are we trying to slow the spread in hopes of a vaccine or effective treatment plan?

The questions matter because they require different approaches on the scope of the stay at home order.

Comment by Phenomynous Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:35 am
People in the confinement hog industry have been dealing with disease spread in their operations successfully for years! Don’t understand why nursing home and long-term care facilities don’t apply some of the same protocols….
1. All employees must shower and change to clothing provided and kept at the facility (walk into work, go directly to shower, then walk out to a “contained” dressing room) before entering the general facility.
2. Employees must then undress (leaving work clothes in the general facility), shower and then redress in their street clothes when leaving the facility.

This is a proven method to prevent contamination within a closed facility and prevents the spread to other areas.

Comment by RuralKing Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:35 am
==Are we trying to slow the spread to not exceed healthcare capacity? Or are we trying to slow the spread in hopes of a vaccine or effective treatment plan?==

Yes (to both). We are trying slow the spread to not exceed healthcare capacity as we await the development of an effective vaccine or treatment plan.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:46 am
Phenomynous,
“What is the Governor’s plan?”

Great question. Imagine you own a dental office in Illinois. Dental offices have been shut down in the state for the last 30 days because of the Governor’s order.

But yesterday the governor said, “We actually never closed dentists or doctors’ offices in the EO. They have the ability to operate, but I know that many dentists have chosen not to open because…….”

This is directly contradicted by the IDPH posted notices.

So the Governor is saying one thing, while the IDPH is saying another. Who’s correct?

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:47 am
After experiencing my late mother, mother in law and father in law in and out of nursing homes during their final days, the standard of care is considerably less than hospitals and clinics. Better regulations are a must including better And better paid personnel. The State needs to improve oversight here and this pandemic shows our failures and theirs.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:47 am
“That means you’re more likely to die of COVID-19 if you live in either of those two counties than if you live in Chicago or in Cook County.”

Lies, damn lies and statistics.

Factor in the proximity of residents per square mile with that per capita number and I have a hard time believing someone living in a sparsely populated county is more likely to become infected than someone in a major metro area.

That being said, social distancing through the summer sucks, but is probably the prudent course of action.

Sadly, I’m afraid Mr. Bailey’s blueprint is about to be followed by people in about 50 other counties unless the Governor comes up with some sort of variables for each county instead of one-size-fits-all orders.

Comment by Multiple Streams Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:50 am
=And, of course, those employees don’t live where they work. They go home to their families after their shifts are over.=

Ridiculous that this even has to be said. This isn’t a nursing home virus anymore than it’s a Chinese or Chicago virus. It’s hopscotched across the world infected people of all ages, races, occupations, and political affiliations.

We have to stop burning daylight arguing with the uninformed and uneducated and focus on accomplishing the three Ts.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:53 am
Anti science must also mean anti-logic. Nursing homes were always a breeding crown of infection, but with this virus it is being exposed even more. When this is over we need to look a little closer at our elder care system.

Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:57 am
I have meet Mr. Hickox. You know how they talk about people you would like to have a beer with, yeah his definitely not one of those.

Comment by Southern Illinois Mayor Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:02 am
Rural King— how about visitors? Vendors? I imagine hog confinement facilities don’t get many.

Comment by Pyrman Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:06 am
Wonder if we will soon see Randolph county using this same warped logic and saying - “hey, they are just Gilster (Gilster Mary-lee Corp) workers. It’s really not a problem in our county.”

Comment by DownSouth Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:10 am
Pyrman-
Those confinement operations I talked about don’t allow visitors at all…any contractors must go through the same procedures.
But with the those in nursing home settings being so vulnerable, I can’t imagine visitors being let in right now anyway, and any people coming to those facilities for necessary care would need to follow the protocols in my scenario. Seems reasonable to contain/prevent infections. (and cheap too!)

Comment by RuralKing Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:11 am
Demoralized-
Then why the hell am I washing my hands 50 times a day???

Comment by RuralKing Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:18 am
Our family had a loss when an elderly parent passed in a nursing home last November before the pandemic. I cannot imagine how hard this crisis must be for those with loved ones confined to nursing homes and the public health guidelines restricting visits.

I think that the nursing home visit restrictions are warranted in this case, but that doesn’t make it any easier. The inability to have ordinary funerals has to hurt also.

Comment by Practical Politics Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:18 am
I’m saying that the procedure you walked through isn’t going to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

You are aware is spread primarily through coughing and such aren’t you?

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:20 am
I am aware that if you HAVE coronavirus you can spread it with coughing, sneezing, and such….but if you have been in contact with the virus (on a surface such as a countertop, doorknob, etc…) and then touch something else it can be transferred to that surface. Not all the spread is from someone breathing directly on you. That’s why you wash your hands, wipe down surfaces, use disinfectant. Otherwise, what is the point of all of that?

Comment by RuralKing Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:30 am
Great question. Imagine you own a dental office in Illinois. Dental offices have been shut down in the state for the last 30 days because of the Governor’s order.

But yesterday the governor said, “We actually never closed dentists or doctors’ offices in the EO. They have the ability to operate, but I know that many dentists have chosen not to open because…….”

This is directly contradicted by the IDPH posted notices.

So the Governor is saying one thing, while the IDPH is saying another. Who’s correct?==

He said that first part over the weekend. He corrected himself on Monday and said the IDPH is correct.

Comment by thoughts matter Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:38 am
–He corrected himself on Monday and said the IDPH is correct—-

He certainly gave a lot of false hope to dental and physicians offices over the weekend.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:43 am
Part of me wants to move to Jasper County and run against Hickox with the slogan, “Just remember … Darrell Hickox don’t care if you Momma dies!”

Comment by The Way I See It Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:43 am
Thank you Jasper County Board member Hickox for helping me come to the decision to not spend any of my money in your county.

Comment by anonamoose Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:45 am
Rural King you are right to wash your hands. This is because your hand has oils on it, and viruses stick to that oil. When you wash you you literally wash the virus away. Also no need to buy anti-bacterial soap. This is a virus not a bacteria.

Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:46 am
Why would a dentist even want to be open? They and their assistants are all up in people’s faces every single day. I wouldn’t go to the dentist even if the offices were open and I suspect that is a view shared by a lot of people. Unless you have an emergency I can’t see any reason why a dentist would ever want to put themselves in that position.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:47 am
RuralKing has the right idea. Coughing and sneezing employees aren’t admitted. Vendors stay in public areas.

Visitation will be tricky to manage. Physical contact will be rare.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:51 am
“Coughing and sneezing employees aren’t admitted.” And the carriers who have no symptoms?

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 12:22 pm
What happened to Republicans? When (and why) did they get so bat-caca crazy? I grew up Republican (I’m not one any more) and despite things l ike a general distrust of government, etc., I don’t ever remember them being like this. It’s baffling.

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 12:29 pm
=Coughing and sneezing employees aren’t admitted.=

Great plan except for those asymptomatic individuals with the virus. This is why of all the three Ts testing is the most important. The only way you can open thing up at any level close to normal is through rigorous testing. Otherwise you’re just guessing.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 12:38 pm
My dentist’s office closed before the Governor’s order, based on recommendations from the American Dental Association. Not every small business person has to have the government tell them to do the right thing - some of them do it of their own volition.

Comment by Rasselas Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 1:17 pm
Governors in NY, NJ, and CA ordered COVID positive hospital patients to be discharged to nursing homes to keep the hospitals empty just in case there was a virus surge. The nursing homes fought it but had to take those patients and it caused the deaths of thousands. So very bad on the part of those governors.

Comment by Trying to Be Rational Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 1:19 pm
How many of the diseases plaguing confinement hog operations can be spread through the air by carriers who remain asymptomatic for up to two weeks?

And how does scrubbing down at the door address such diseases?

I’ll take my answers off the air.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 1:31 pm
@Multiple Streams

—lies, damn lies, and statistics—

Talk all you want to about population and proximity. If you live in one of those 50 counties, I hope you’re on your knees every night, spending a few hours fervently thanking the god (of whatever denomination you practice) who made you for all the asymptomatic carriers who seem to be living by you.

I’m betting that at some point, sooner rather than later, that your luck will run out.

And when your local hospital (which may not be in your county) is overrun with Covid-19 cases, are the rest of us supposed to rescue you? Why should we? You seem to be eager to kill yourself and others around you.

If nothing else, consider this: given the voting records for many rural counties, every person who dies is one less person who can vote for Trump in November.

Despite the rumors some folks like to spread, the dead are not allowed to vote in federal or state elections in Illinois.

Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 6:38 pm
=== Many are operating on a shoe string already ===

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/business/nursing-homes-care-corporate.amp.html

“Care Suffers as More Nursing Homes Feed Money Into Corporate Webs”

Nursing home operators and their accountants have become experts at building complex corporate webs where the license holder owns nothing but the license and rents or contracts for the building, the staff, professional services, food service, etc owned by. Corporations that they either control directly or that are owned by their wives, sons and brothers.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 8:36 pm