Over 40 percent of US COVID-19 deaths are linked to nursing homes: NYT

More than 40 percent of coronavirus deaths in the U.S. are linked to nursing homes, according to data analyzed by the New York Times.

At least 54,000 of the over 125,500 confirmed coronavirus deaths in the U.S. are residents and workers at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities for seniors, the newspaper found.

The vulnerability of nursing homes was evident early in the pandemic, as older people are among the high-risk population determined by public health officials, and therefore they are more susceptible to severe symptoms and even death from the virus. 

The virus also spreads easily from person-to-person contact, which is hard to avoid in a nursing home setting where residents depend on staff and interact with other residents.

The Times data found that in 24 states most coronavirus deaths are linked to nursing homes. In Minnesota, New York and New Hampshire, more than 70 percent of coronavirus-related deaths are linked to nursing homes. 

The analysis also found that the fatality rate from nursing homes is 17 percent, compared to the 5 percent general fatality rate.

Over 10 percent of all coronavirus cases in the U.S. are also linked to nursing homes. Of the over 2.5 million cases in the U.S., 282,000 are residents and workers at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, the Times data shows.