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COVID-19 cases surpass 100 in Allegany County; death reported at second nursing home

April 25th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Health Department has reported 15 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Allegany County, bringing the total to 110.  The new cases are all affiliated with the known outbreak at a Cumberland nursing home and include 14 residents and one staff member.  A total of 73 residents at this facility have tested positive for COVID-19.  

The health department also reports that a female resident of that nursing home has died.

A Mineral County resident employed at a second Allegany County nursing home has tested positive for COVID-19. 

As of Friday, a total of 809 Allegany County residents have been tested for COVID-19.  Of those, 649 were negative, 110 tested positive, and 50 tests are still pending.

17 Responses to “COVID-19 cases surpass 100 in Allegany County; death reported at second nursing home”

  1. April 25, 2020 at 9:05 am, mac said:

    Mineral County resident employed at a second Allegany County nursing home has tested positive for Covid-19.

    It starts again. All residents will have to be tested. The positive numbers will increase.
    This is still the first wave of infections.

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  2. April 25, 2020 at 11:22 am, Jane said:

    It is only the first wave. We are no where near safe. But the clusters of people testing positive now. In close living situations, like nursing homes, tells us about routine disinfection needing to be top priority for all of our innocent elderly and infirm. The standards of disinfection definitely needs raised regardless of an outbreak. Always prepared means much less death! I ache for those infected and hope for full recoveries.

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  3. April 25, 2020 at 11:42 am, Linmarie said:

    I hope the families are being notified. Why not just be upfront with the nursing home names?

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    • April 25, 2020 at 1:31 pm, mac said:

      > It doesn’t seem right to withhold the names but there would be panic and a mass exodus to get people out of anyplace that was named. It’s certainly a tough position to be in but what we don’t need to hear is the non specific happy talk passed out by the lawyer representing the Cumberland Nursing Home. He is doing a disservice to the company he supposedly represents and to the general public as a whole.

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      • April 25, 2020 at 1:55 pm, Mark said:

        > Now that makes NO sense! By NOT naming the home everyone fears it may be the ONE their loved one is in!! It only causes MORE panic, not less! Besides, where are people going to take them to? Most are in the homes because their families CAN’T fend for them at home. And why is it that many other nursing homes all over America are named in the news every day?? At least folks (including staff) can make more informed decisions/choices (or worry) with MORE info, not less. Besides it’s silly to think they can hide the name of the Sterling Home in Frostburg for very long!!

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        • April 25, 2020 at 1:57 pm, Mark said:

          > p.s. And shouldn’t the patients and their family have the RIGHT to moved their loved one if they want?? (and if it’s safe to do so?)

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    • April 25, 2020 at 1:59 pm, Mark said:

      > According to that Health Dept. ANY notification like that would violate HIPAA laws. I guess the only notification they want to give is the DEATH of your loved one.

      Reply

  4. April 25, 2020 at 3:54 pm, jim said:

    Unless you are considering the nursing home as an individual person I don’t understand how it could be confidential violation to say Covid exists in this nursing home.

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  5. April 25, 2020 at 3:58 pm, jim said:

    There are patients suffering from cancer at Western Maryland hospital. Was that a violation?

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  6. April 25, 2020 at 7:12 pm, jim said:

    So the law regarding individual privacy is based on the amount of capacity beds in their healthcare setting. I promise you that you’re wrong.

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    • April 26, 2020 at 4:17 am, Ken said:

      > No Jim, the law attempts to limit the chances that a patient’s privacy can be determined. If we had a facility with three patients, it’s easier than a hospital with three hundred.

      This is all our privacy that’s being protected. Isn’t that important to you? Can you understand that there might be information in your medical records that might be embarrassing or could prevent you from being hired?

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      • April 26, 2020 at 6:02 am, Mark said:

        > There you go again with your totally nonsensical THEORIES. Even if a place only has TWO people in it- 1. You still don’t know their IDENTITY. 2. You still have a 50% chance of picking the wrong one, even assuming you could find out their names. And 3rd- It’s NOT a violation of a PATIENT’s privacy when you name a FACILITY! Even the CDC requires facilities to be named. And lastly, why is it many other places name facilities? And why is it Maryland even names what prison/jails have staff that are infected?? And if it’s to ‘limit the chances’ of someone finding out who’s sick, then they can’t tell the patient or any family member either as they may tell someone else!! See how silly that sounds?? And NO ONE is asking for any medical records to be made public!! Making up false accusations like that to defend an UN-Defensible argument just makes you look foolish, imo Hope your Mom is well.

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    • April 26, 2020 at 6:04 am, Mark said:

      > Jim- I think Ken knows how wrong he is, just too stubborn or proud to admit it.

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  7. April 26, 2020 at 12:58 am, Beth said:

    Please everyone stop arguing. Let us please agree that our community needs to know the truth. So many mean comments. Focus on the TRUTH. Individuals, corporations, government!!!! Please work together. Regardless of our political affiliation, our gender or our beliefs…. I’m sure all folks want this terrible situation to end.

    Reply

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