AARP launches dashboard to track COVID-19 infections in Florida nursing homes

The AARP says Florida’s nursing homes are seeing a higher number of COVID-19 infections in staff and patients compared to other states, along with not enough rapid testing or personal protective equipment.

Now the group has launched a nursing home dashboard, separate from the state, to track the cases in those facilities.

READ: Florida to allow nursing home, assisted living facility visitations

The organization says nine out of ten nursing homes have had positive cases during the pandemic.

AARP did not attack Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has touted the state’s handling of nursing homes during the pandemic, but seems to say that the state is not doing enough.

“We have to emphasize rapid result testing if possible, every day, for staff, visitors, vendors and everyone who is going in and out of nursing homes,” said AARP Florida spokesperson Dave Bruns.

READ: Despite governor’s orders, some being denied from visiting loved ones in nursing homes

The group worries the state’s numbers could get worse, now that Florida is in Phase 3 and nursing homes are open for visitors.

“People are picking this virus up in restaurants, in bars, in social settings, at sporting events and other places. Then, the fear is that they will carry it into these facilities,” Burns said. “Once it gets into these facilities, it is not uncommon for a quarter, sometimes even as much as half, of the people who are infected to die.”

VIDEO: Despite governor’s orders, some being denied from visiting loved ones in nursing homes