Facilities where residents live in close quarters have become the focus for county health officials as COVID-19 cases in those settings grow.
Bucks County Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker said 25 facilities where residents live in congregate settings have reported “outbreaks,” or at least one COVID-19 case in either residents or staff.
“The likelihood is that if you have one, you are going to have others,” he said.
Among the 25 facilities where there have been COVID-19 cases, county-owned and operated Neshaminy Manor Nursing Home in Warrington and the Bucks County Correctional Facility in Doylestown Township are included with positive cases among staff and residents. Southampton Estates in Upper Southampton and Ann’s Choice in Warminster are also among the facilities that have reported positive cases, according to public statements.
Health care facilities across Lower Bucks County have suspended visitation and implemented techniques in an effort to stop the spread of the virus on their campuses.
State health officials have also raised concerns about COVID-19 cases in congregant living facilities, like long-term care centers.
Earlier in the week, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said there were close to 700 COVID-19 cases at that time at long-term care facilities.
Damsker said of Bucks County’s 32 deaths of COVID-19 patients, local nursing home deaths account for less than one-third of the fatalities.
The county has also seen numerous cases of COVID-19 among emergency responders, police officers, and medical staff.
“The employees have continued going to work because they are essential but some of them may have unintentionally brought the disease in with them,” Damsker said.
As of Friday night, county officials reported four more residents with COVID-19 died. They were a 79-year-old woman, a 60-year-old man, a 77-year-old man, and 94-year-old man. All four had a history of underlying health conditions.
The latest deaths bring the COVID-19 death toll to 32.
A total of 78 Bucks Coutnians were hospitalized with COVID-19 and 21 were in critical condition on ventilators while 170 have recovered.
Damsker said the county’s six hospitals have not yet reported shortages of bed. County-wide, there are several ICU beds still available.
