The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is increasing how much information it shares with the public about long-term care facilities and COVID-19.
Previously, MDHHS only published case and death counts for skilled nursing facilities. The new reports, to be published every Monday, will also include licensed adult foster facilities (AFCs) with 13 or more residents, and licensed homes for the aged (HFAs).
That means the department will be prepared to publish data from 905 additional facilities every week.
But many of those facilities have yet to share their data with MDHHS. For this week’s report, published on November 2, only 60% of HFAs reported their COVID-19 cases and deaths; only 32% of AFCs did.
The reports will also include a section for new cases among residents and staff. Before, they showed only the cumulative cases.
Though incomplete, the data continue to emphasize COVID’s disproportionate impact on long-term care facilities, showing that residents make up more than a third of Michigan’s deaths from the disease.
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