LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada health officials have opened an investigation into a spike in COVID-19 deaths among residents of a Las Vegas nursing home that accounts for about one-fourth of the 93 deaths tied to the virus at all state-regulated institutions.
The Department of Health and Human Services reported that 24 residents of The Heights of Summerlin have died from the coronavirus.
Media reports said as many as 16 of the facility’s residents’ deaths were registered on Wednesday.
But department spokeswoman Shannon Litz said the deaths happened over a longer period of time. She said the nursing home had failed to report the deaths in a timely fashion.
The state says 133 cases of virus infection have been confirmed there.
Lori Mayer, a spokeswoman for The Heights of Summerlin, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal the reporting delay happened because all but one of the deaths involving the nursing home residents occurred in local hospitals. Facility officials didn’t immediately respond to phone and email requests for comment Thursday from The Associated Press.
Litz said in a statement late Wednesday the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health “has taken swift action to begin an investigation and provide help and care” to residents and staff.
State data shows 76 residents and 57 staff members have tested positive for the virus at The Heights of Summerlin, representing 49% the residents and 29% of the staff.
Nevada has confirmed 7,166 cases of COVID-19 statewide and 378 related deaths.
Source: AP News