New Jersey failed veterans in state-run homes hit by dozens of COVID-19 deaths, federal report says
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Widespread dysfunction at two of New Jersey’s state-run veterans homes left them unprepared to protect residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and still persists, a scathing report by the U.S Justice Department found Thursday.
The 43-page document paints a disturbing picture of failures at the homes in Menlo Park and Paramus where dozens of deaths occurred early in the outbreak. It said poor communication, lack of staff competency and other issues led to the coronavirus spreading “virtually unchecked throughout the facilities.”
Among the findings: The homes failed to group residents into cohorts according to their exposure to COVID-19, resulting in the commingling of infected and uninfected people; they didn’t properly use personal protective gear; they failed to communicate effectively internally and did not maintain improvements achieved after the U.S. Veterans Affairs department came in to help, among other issues.
“Even by the standards of the pandemic’s difficult early days, the facilities were unprepared to keep their residents safe,” the report said.
https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-nursing-homes-covid-justice-department-17bc00ec2c9216dedbae73ecf4823748