Great Lakes Wire

Michigan nursing home residents have experienced a 91% decrease in COVID-19 cases between late December and late February, thanks to vaccinations being administered to long-term care residents.

The staff at these facilities has also seen an 83% drop in cases, in comparison to Michigan's overall decline of 65%.

“I think vaccines had a huge role to play,” Dr. Teena Chopra, a professor of infectious diseases at Wayne State University, told Bridge Michigan.

Long-term care facilities have comprised 37% of Michigan's COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. Since December, over 200,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered to senior-living residents and staff, thanks to a partnership between the state of Michigan and pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens.

Of the total 15,273 COVID-19-related deaths in Michigan, 5,515 were residents of long-term care facilities. And another 79 deaths were employees at those facilities.

The week that vaccines were delivered, there were 827 positive COVID-19 cases among nursing home residents and 738 cases for staff of the facilities. As of Feb. 22, there were 73 positive cases for residents and 125 cases among staff, showing a sharp decline.

State officials believe that vaccinations, along with the state's various health restrictions and business closures, helped bring about the drop in cases.

On Dec. 1, the state saw an average of 6,500 cases per day, compared to 850 average cases per day, as of Feb. 23.

“Getting Michigan’s long-term care residents vaccinated is a high priority, as we know this is the best way to protect this vulnerable population,” Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, told Bridge Michigan. “We feel vaccinations are also playing a role; however, not all residents and staff have received both doses, so at this time we can’t say how much they are contributing to the decline.”