COVID-19 Long-Term Care Data

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recognized the potential for long-term care facilities (LTC) to be heavily impacted by COVID-19 early in the pandemic. As soon as the first few cases of COVID-19 were identified in the state, the department issued LTC guidance, restricted visitors, canceled group activities and implemented screening of staff and residents for illness. Weekly COVID-19 infection and prevention educational sessions for LTC administrators and staff began on March 9, 2020, in conjunction with Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Disaster Proclamation.

The first case of COVID-19 in an Illinois LTC facility was diagnosed on March 11, 2020, and a large outbreak ensued. A joint investigation with IDPH, DuPage County Health Department, the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Medicine, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Rush University Medical Center, confirmed that unrecognized asymptomatic spread of the virus had contributed to the outbreak. This finding was published in June 2020 adding to the national discussion on appropriate COVID-19 control measures for LTC facilities.

During the weeks that followed this first outbreak, the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths surged in the community and at LTC facilities, peaking in May. The IDPH LTC response focused on increasing testing capacity, providing personal protective equipment, and working with facilities and local health departments to ensure that the core principals of infection prevention were put into practice. IDPH contracted with healthcare organizations to perform onsite LTC infection prevention evaluations and COVID-19 testing. Emergency Rules were issued requiring LTC facilities to perform testing during outbreaks at the end of May 2020.

By summer 2020, the number of cases had decreased substantially. Anticipating that there would likely be another surge in cases, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent newly developed point-of-care antigen tests to LTC facilities across the nation. IDPH ensured that all LTC facilities had adequate supplies of the tests and, following the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services lead, required routine testing of all staff. When a second wave of COVID-19 cases hit Illinois in the fall, this LTC staff testing helped to identify infected asymptomatic individuals who could inadvertently spread the virus to residents and co-workers.

After months of intense effort, COVID-19 vaccinations became available in December 2020, and CDC launched a massive national program to vaccinate the residents and staff of all LTC facilities in the United States. In Illinois at that time, 46% of all deaths from COVID-19 had occurred in LTC, and those facilities were urged to participate in the program. Nearly 1500 LTC facilities, 99% of the total number licensed in the state, were enrolled. IDPH worked together with Walgreens, CVS and PharmScript to hold three vaccination clinics at each facility over a three-month period; 4500 clinic sessions in total.

Increases in LTC COVID-19 cases are directly related to the amount of virus circulating in the community. However, the dramatic increase in community COVID-19 cases during the 2nd wave in November/December 2020 did not result in a proportionate increase in LTC cases, likely due to the many control measures that had been put in place since the spring.

Began week of December 28, 2020 – 3 clinics were held at each facility
1500 LTC facilities in program (99% of those licensed in Illinois)
January 25, 2021 – all Skilled Nursing Facilities had first vaccinations
February 15, 2021 – all Assisted Living Facilities and other LTC facilities had first vaccinations
Second clinics were finished by the second week of March, program ended early April
The 40 facilities not enrolled in the program had vaccinations provided by other sources

Staff and residents continue to receive COVID-19 vaccinations through an arrangement with LTC pharmacies that typically provide this service.

Data is updated Wednesday

Vertical bars represent total weekly new Illinois COVID-19 cases with values displayed on the left-hand vertical axis. Bar segments represent non-LTC cases (blue) and LTC cases (orange). The purple line represents the percentage of total weekly new cases associated with LTC facilities. with values displayed on the right-hand vertical axis. LTC facilities include skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, supportive living facilities, and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Homes.

Data Source: Illinois National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (INEDSS)

Vertical bars represent weekly new Illinois COVID-19 cases associated with LTC facilities Bar segments represent resident status (orange), staff status (blue), and status of other or unknown category (purple). LTC facilities include skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, supportive living facilities, and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Homes.

Data Source: Illinois National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (INEDSS)

Vertical bars represent total weekly new Illinois COVID-19 deaths, with values displayed on the left-hand vertical axis. Bar segments represent non-LTC deaths (blue) and LTC cases (orange). The purple line represents the percentage of total weekly new deaths associated with LTC facilities, with values displayed on the right-hand vertical axis. LTC facilities include skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, supportive living facilities, and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Homes.

Data Source: Illinois National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (INEDSS)

Vertical bars represent weekly new Illinois COVID-19 deaths associated with LTC facilities. Bar segments represent resident status (orange), staff status (blue), and status of other or unknown category (purple). LTC facilities include skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, supportive living facilities, and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Homes.

Data Source: Illinois National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (INEDSS)

The graph visualizes the cumulative first and second doses of vaccines administered in the LTC facilities and reported by clinic held date.

Data Source: Tiberius

The graph visualizes vaccines administered in LTC’s breakdown by staff and residents and reported by clinic held date.

Data Source: Tiberius

Vaccination in the LTC (LTC) setting began in Illinois during the week ending January 2, 2021, as identified by the green vertical dotted line. This is the index week, with the number of new COVID-19 cases for all weeks displayed as of percentage of the number of cases for that week. The orange line represents LTC cases and the blue line non-LTC cases.

Data Source: Illinois National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (INEDSS)

Vaccination in the LTC (LTC) setting began in Illinois during the week ending January 2, 2021, as identified by the green vertical dotted line. This week is the index week, with the number of new COVID-19 deaths for all weeks displayed as of percentage of the number of deaths for that particular week. The orange line represents LTC deaths and the blue line non-LTC deaths.

Data Source: Illinois National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (INEDSS)