The Washington D.C.-based American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has released a report showing that the major spike of new COVID-19 cases in nursing homes has surpassed the peak level seen May 31, according to updated data released from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The report shows the increase of COVID cases in U.S. nursing homes is a direct result of the major spikes in the general population of the Sun Belt region with 78 percent of new cases in U.S. nursing homes coming from those states by the end of July. According to the report, COVID-related deaths in nursing homes have declined significantly, but have started to increase again with 69 percent of COVID-related deaths in U.S. nursing homes coming from the Sun Belt.

“With the recent major spikes of COVID 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.”

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