State Updates Coronavirus Stats For Collingswood Nursing Homes

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — The spread of the coronavirus in Camden County’s 56 long-term care facilities has reduced drastically, Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

“Things started horribly in our long-term care facilities,” Cappelli said in an online news conference updating residents on the county’s response to the coronavirus. “A large portion of our cases still come out of there, but the spread has reduced drastically. We now have a 2 percent growth rate. It was a lot higher than that a month ago.”

As of Tuesday, 1,170 residents at the county's 56 long-term care facilities had been diagnosed with the coronavirus, as have 426 nursing home staff members. Three staff members and 244 residents have died as a result of the coronavirus.

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The state released updated nursing home numbers on Monday. United Methodist Community in Collingswood was the only Collingswood nursing home listed by the state. It had 33 cases among residents, with 13 deaths. There were 15 cases among nursing home staff members, with no confirmed deaths. The breakdown for each nursing home in the state can be found here.

In all of Collingswood, there were 76 cases and four deaths, according to the county's numbers. There is often a discrepancy between numbers reported by nursing homes and those reported by counties and municipalities.

Countywide, the coronavirus growth rate is down to between 1 and 1.5 percent, Cappelli said on Tuesday. He also said that 97 percent of the Camden County residents who tested positive for the coronavirus have since recovered.

The county saw 52 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 6,853 cases and 339 total fatalities. Trace investigations are underway in all new cases. Cappelli said trace investigations have helped Camden County officials identify cases and stem the spread of the coronavirus. Many residents who have tested positive for the virus are essential employees.

“Our testing schedule and locations may change next week,” Cappelli said. “Tests are much more available now, and they are available through places other than through the government. … All things are pointing in the right direction.”

Testing is now available at certain Rite Aid and CVS locations. He encouraged residents to get tested often.

“A lot of people who are infected don’t have any symptoms,” Cappelli said. “I encourage you to get tested as often as possible.”

He also said anti-body testing is available to Camden County residents, but that form of testing is only about 50 percent accurate.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know