25 Deaths At Elmhurst Facilities: State

ELMHURST, IL — Twenty-five coronavirus-related deaths have been reported at Elmhurst's long-term care facilities, according to the state Department of Public Health. Fifteen of the deaths have been at Artis Senior Living of Elmhurst and 10 at Lexington of Elmhurst nursing home. The latest state reports came out Friday.

According to the state, Artis Senior Living and Lexington have had 40 and 35 virus cases, respectively. The cases may include both residents and employees. Elmhurst's Park Place Health & Wellness Center nursing home has had four reported cases of the virus and no deaths, while The Grove of Elmhurst and Elmhurst Extended Care Center have suffered no outbreaks whatsoever, state reports say.

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With 15 deaths, Artis, an assisted living and memory care facility, has the fourth highest number in DuPage County. Carol Stream's Windsor Park Manor has the most deaths with 21. Following are ManorCare of Hinsdale with 19 and Alden Estates of Naperville with 17.

An official from Lexington's parent company said Wednesday the organization counts 10 deaths and 25 cases at the Elmhurst facility.

"We've been keeping pretty accurate numbers. We've also been reporting them to the Illinois Department of Health," said Fred Benjamin, Lexington's chief operating officer.

Benjamin said he is active in nursing home trade associations and that they have found no link between homes' quality ratings and the number of virus cases. The spread of the virus is more likely in bigger facilities because there are more interactions, he said.

Benjamin also said nursing homes still need more testing and personal protective equipment.

Representatives of Artis could not be reached for immediate comment Wednesday.

Artis and Lexington, both of which are near Elmhurst Hospital, belong to chains. Lexington is owned by Lombard-based Lexington Health Network, which owns 14 facilities in the Chicago area. Artis has locations in Illinois, Minnesota, Florida and several Eastern states.

Under the state's definition, coronavirus case numbers at facilities include both confirmed and presumed cases.

As of Sunday, Elmhurst had 162 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. This was up from 142 a week earlier, a 14 percent increase.

On Monday, Elmhurst Mayor Steve Morley released a public letter urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to quicken the pace of opening the economy in Elmhurst and other suburbs.