The Washington D.C.-based American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has released a report showing nursing homes in the U.S. have experienced a spike in new COVID-19 cases due to community spread among the general population. The report was based on recent data released from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The data from CMS shows that COVID-19 cases in nursing homes significantly increased in July after having dropped significantly throughout the month of June. The report also showed that COVID-related deaths in nursing homes had declined significantly but have started to uptick again in recent weeks.

“With the recent major spikes of COVID-19 cases in many states across the country, we were very concerned this trend would lead to an increase in cases in nursing homes and unfortunately it has,” said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO at the AHCA/NCAL. “This is especially troubling since many nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are still unable to acquire the personal protective equipment and testing they need to fully combat this virus.”

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact David Cohen