Coronavirus In West Virginia: Nursing Homes Could Run Out Of Supplies In As Soon As 2 Weeks, Trade Group CEO Says
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia nursing homes could run out of masks, gloves and medical gowns in as soon as two weeks amid a nationwide shortage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a trade group leader said Friday.
Marty Wright, CEO of the West Virginia Health Care Association, said the supply of personal protective equipment is dwindling as facilities rush to buy gear in a crowded marketplace marred by skyrocketing markups and delayed shipments.
"What they're seeing are shortages nationwide that are creeping into West Virginia," Wright told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "The supply is not able to meet the demand."
He said he's heard stories of masks that were less than $1 now going for $5, facilities being supplemented by homemade items and nursing homes reaching out to overseas vendors as stateside suppliers are swamped.
The West Virginia Health Care Association, the state's largest trade group of nursing homes and assisted living centers, put out a statement Friday calling for more equipment for the facilities and other health care providers.
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States across the country are scrambling to get supplies as a federal stockpile of safety equipment has been drained after it was only able to fulfill just a sliver of states' requests. Records released by The U.S House Committee on Oversight and Reform last week showed massive gaps in what West Virginia requested and obtained from the federal government.
West Virginia officials are working to buy up gear from vendors from many different states, and not all of the orders have been fulfilled, Lawrence Messina, a spokesman for State Emergency Operations Center, said in a statement Thursday.
At least three West Virginia nursing homes have reported virus cases. The Sundale Nursing Home in Morgantown, which has been called " ground zero " for the virus in West Virginia, has reported two deaths and around 30 cases. In the state capital of Charleston, local health officials said the Eastbrook Center has eight cases and Brookdale Charleston Gardens had one resident infected.
State health officials said at least 536 people have tested positive for the virus as of Friday morning, with five deaths. Testing remains limited and state health officials have admitted their count lags behind the actual total as results pour in from counties around the state.
Republican Gov. Jim Justice has repeatedly warned of the virus spreading among the elderly and at nursing homes. He previously ordered a state of emergency, directed all nonessential businesses to close, shuttered schools until at least April 30 and rescheduled the primary election from May 12 to June 9.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks, and the overwhelming majority of people recover. But people with severe cases can need respirators to survive, and with infections spreading exponentially, many hospitals are bracing for coming waves of patients.
More information on the Coronavirus pandemic:
- CDC Coronavirus Information
- CDC Global Map of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
- West Virginia Department Of Health & Human Resources
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