LTC facilities reporting fewer COVID-19 cases in residents, staff

JACKSON, Miss. (WLOX) - For the first time since the Mississippi State Department of Health began reporting ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities, the number of reported cases and deaths has decreased from the previous week.

Twelve LTC facilities reported cases of COVID-19 in residents and staff this week in the six southernmost counties, three fewer than the previous week.

LTC facilities in South Mississippi reported 188 cases in staff members, 302 cases in residents and 36 resident deaths related to COVID-19.

The Mississippi State Department of Health recently clarified an outbreak will now be defined by a single confirmed COVID-19 infection in an LTC resident or more than one COVID-19 infection in employees or staff in a 14-day period.

One case of COVID-19 in an employee of an LTC facility will still prompt an investigation by MSDH.

The names of the facilities where outbreaks have been reported had previously been withheld, citing patient privacy.

[ TABLE: An in-depth look at the number of cases in long-term care facilities ]

A Hinds County Chancery Court ruling said the names of facilities with outbreaks of COVID-19 should be disclosed out of public interest, and the court agreed. A further recommendation from the state attorney general backed up the decision.

While the names of the specific facilities were released, the names of individual patients will still not be public, nor will how many cases each facility has reported.

Copyright 2020 WLOX. All rights reserved.