PHOENIX — Federal data shows more than half the nursing homes in Arizona have confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, further highlighting the high risk of infection and death for residents and staff inside long-term care facilities.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a national database of all skilled nursing facilities, which were required to start reporting coronavirus cases and other statistics.
The overall numbers for Arizona’s 146 skilled nursing facilities show:
- 85 facilities have confirmed or suspected cases among residents and staff
- 760 confirmed or suspected cases for residents
- 129 deaths
See the affected locations in the map below.
Skilled nursing facilities, which are licensed by the federal government, make up about six percent of all long-term care facilities in this state. Other types of long-term care centers, like assisted living and memory care, are licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ and Governor Doug Ducey have refused to release data and information about long-term care.
Media organizations filed a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court last month, but a judge ruled that unclear state statutes allow Arizona officials to keep the information private.
