Carney bears down on Delaware nursing homes, as COVID-19 cases increase in them

Delaware has issued new regulations for nursing homes and long-term living facilities as the state continues to see an increase in coronavirus cases and related deaths in residents.  

Across the country, nursing homes have served as hotspots for COVID-19. In Delaware, there are at least 19 facilities that have reported a total of 97 cases and 21 deaths.  

At Little Sisters of the Poor in Ogletown, 11 residents have died from complications related to the coronavirus. 

READ:Delaware nursing homes, hit hard by coronavirus, face an uncertain future

In an executive order Wednesday, Gov. John Carney required these facilities to immediately establish a group of staff members to care for residents with COVID-19.

These facilities are also required to create separate areas for those with confirmed or suspected cases of the coronavirus as well as an area for newly admitted and re-admitted residents to be observed for early signs of COVID-19 for 14 days. 

As of Tuesday, state officials have confirmed a total of 1,926 cases. Two more Delawareans have died — an 83-year-old woman from a Sussex County long-term care facility and a 70-year-old woman from Kent County — making the death toll 43. 

The most recent data shows that 217 people are now hospitalized; 45 are considered critically ill.

The executive order also mandates that those who have received care at a hospital for COVID-19 can return to the nursing home as long as these facilities follow state and federal guidelines. 

MORE:Delaware to work with regional states on how to reopen in midst of coronavirus pandemic

A negative COVID-19 test is not required for a person to return to their nursing home, according to the order.

Health officials said the state would identify only facilities that have confirmed multiple cases of the coronavirus. They include:

• Little Sisters of the Poor, Ogletown
• HarborChase of Wilmington, Talleyville 
• Governor Bacon Health Center, Delaware City 
• Forwood Manor, Brandywine Hundred 
• Parkview Nursing and Rehab Center, Wilmington 
• Country House, Greenville 
• MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital, New Castle 
• Atlantic Shores Rehab and Health Center, Millsboro 
• Genesis HealthCare Milford Center, Milford 
• Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, New Castle 
• Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, Smyrna 
• New Castle Health and Rehabilitation, New Castle  
• Delaware Psychiatric Center, New Castle  

Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 324-2386 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @merenewman.