State names long-term care facilities where COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths have been reported

Published 10:12 pm Wednesday, June 3, 2020

The Mississippi State Department of Health announced Tuesday it would release the names of long-term care facilities in the state where COVID-19 outbreaks had been reported.

It kept that promise, releasing the detailed report, naming the facilities and the number of confirmed cases and virus-related deaths connected to each facility. The report was released just before 10 p.m.

In the report, the state details three long-term care facilities in Warren County where outbreaks have been reported; Heritage House Nursing Center, Shady Lawn Health and Rehabilitation and The Bluffs Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.

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In total, the facilities, which all report active outbreaks, reported a total of 55 cases and seven deaths.

Shady Lawn reported one case involving an employee. The Bluffs reported two employee cases.

The majority of the cases — and all of the virus-related deaths — were connected to Heritage House.

In the report, Heritage House reported 14 employee cases and 38 involving residents with seven deaths.

Of the 10 overall deaths reported in Warren County during the COVID-19 pandemic, seven were connected to long-term care facilities.

In Claiborne County, it appears the recent spike in numbers in the county’s overall virus totals is connected to one outbreak at Claiborne County Senior Care, where 11 employees and 40 residents have tested positive. Four virus-related deaths have also now been reported at the facility.

Wednesday’s report is the first such detailed report issued by the state following a court ruling in favor of newspapers who had challenged the department’s decision to keep the information sealed.

Just recently, the state reported completing a testing cycle where all employees and residents of long-term care facilities were tested.

About Tim Reeves

Tim Reeves, and his wife Stephanie, are the parents of three children, Sarah Cameron, Clayton and Fin, who all attend school in the Vicksburg Warren School District. The family are members of First Baptist Church Vicksburg. Tim is involved in a number of civic and volunteer organizations including the United Way of West Central Mississippi and serves on the City of Vicksburg's Riverfront Redevelopment Committee.

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