52 Have Died At Christian Health Care Center Locations In Wyckoff

WYCKOFF, NJ — Fifty-two people have died from the coronavirus in Wyckoff's Christian Health Care Centers, according to the latest state data.

At the four listed locations, all reported more deaths than Patch's latest report, published on May 22. In total, four additional residents have died since that publication.

There are now 115 confirmed resident cases across the four facilities, and 90 confirmed staff cases, as of Wednesday, June 3.

Staff deaths have remained consistent, as only one staff member from across the four locations has died from the coronavirus.

Numbers from individual locations are listed below:

• Christian Health Care Center - SouthGate: 14 COVID-19 confirmed residents, nine confirmed staff, seven resident deaths and no staff deaths.
• Christian Health Care Center - Longview: 27 COVID-19 confirmed residents, seven confirmed staff, nine resident deaths and no staff deaths.
• Christian Health Care Center - Heritage Manor West: 33 COVID-19 confirmed residents, 22 confirmed staff, 16 resident deaths and no staff deaths.
• Christian Health Care Center - Heritage Manor East: 41 COVID-19 confirmed residents, 52 confirmed staff, 20 resident deaths and one staff death.

The coronavirus situation at New Jersey nursing homes has been under the microscope recently.

In a May news conference, Gov. Phil Murphy acknowledged that the state "can do better" regarding the outbreak at these facilities.

Today, Gov. Phil Murphy announced sweeping change would come to the facilities, both in the short and long term.

Mannat Consulting has conducted a review of the state's long-term care facilities, and given guidance for new residents and visitors after the current COVID-19 outbreak which addresses resiliency, mitigation and protection.

Read more: NJ's Long Term Care Issues Exacerbated By COVID-19 To Be Fixed

In total, 6,020 residents and 110 staff have died from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in New Jersey.

Sixty-three Bergen County long-term care facilities have reported outbreaks. In those facilities, 906 residents have died and 3,141 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus. An additional 1,613 staff cases have been reported, and 10 staff members have died.

Calls from experts to expand testing in the facilities have been heard, but the price tag is steep.

There are 363 facilities listed as nursing homes in the state, with residents totaling 43,315 and staff at 47,410. To test every resident and staff member would mean 90,725 total tests at an estimated cost of $13,608,750, according to a report from Patch.

That number doesn't include assisted living or other long-term care facilities.

In addition to the mounting case numbers, there is mounting pressure on long-term care facilities to provide greater transparency to their processes. Ninety-two of New Jersey's long-term care facilities failed to comply with a mandate to provide new coronavirus testing plans to the New Jersey Department of Health.

The long-term care facilities aren't the only groups facing criticism over the handling of nursing home data.

Senator Joseph Pennacchio is calling for a Senate Collect Committee to investigate the handling of the pandemic by Gov. Murphy's office after reports that the state altered the accounting of virus deaths in senior facilities.