Georgia Nursing Home Chain Suffers Big Toll From COVID-19

Georgia is one of 34 states where deaths in long-term care facilities constitute at least 40% of total coronavirus deaths.

Pixabay

This story was originally published at Georgia Health News

The Georgia nursing homes hardest hit by COVID-19 are scattered across the state, from the southwestern farm belt to the Blue Ridge Mountains. But the five with the highest number of total coronavirus cases have one thing in common: They’re run by the same company.

PruittHealth, one of the South’s largest nursing home chains, has reported more than 360 COVID-19 fatalities in Georgia. That’s a rate of roughly 7,500 per 100,000 residents, which is 50% higher than the statewide average for long-term care facilities, according to a Georgia Health News analysis of data reported to state officials.