National Guard deployed to local long-term care facilities

Of the hardest hit nursing homes in tippecanoe county.

A resident at one of those long-term care facilities died this week from covid-19.

News 18's joe paul has been covering outbreaks right now at local nursing homes.

He's live at a facility where the national guard has been deployed.

Joe?

This is the second death from covid-19 at university place here in west lafayette.

Members of the national guard right now are here and at three other long-term care facilities across the county.

"and that really is almost a perfect storm for a contagious, infectious disease like covid-19."

Long-term care facilities across indiana have been hit hard by covid-19.

The national guard this week is being deployed to provide assistance to 133 nursing homes.

Including four in tippecanoe county.

County health officer dr. jeremy adler explains why these facilities are particularly vulnerable.

"you have a large number of elderly, frail individuals, most of whom have chronic medical problems that place them at higher risk.

They're living together in a single location."

The four locations receiving assistance have been the site of covid-19 outbreaks.

Covid-19 outbreaks.

University place executive director dave kinder says that location's outbreak began after a resident contracted the virus at a local hospital.

Iu health arnett and franciscan health lafayette issued a joint statement outlining their steps to mitigate spread, including mandated mask-wearing and social distancing.

Adler says the outbreaks at local facilities could also be due to asymptomatic staff or visitors.

"we also wonder about asymptomatic individuals coming into the nursing home and introducing the virus."

Indiana's covid-19 dashboard lags behind the number of cases in real time.

The dashboard shows university place for example as having less than five cases.

"i'm not sure if that would account for the discrepancy or if there's been a delay in reporting to the folks of the state who put these things on the dashboard."

Kinder tells me university place has taken stops to stop the spread from staff and visitors.

Including temperature checks and limiting outside items from entering the facility.

He says he's been working closely with the state department of health to report the cases.

Reporting live in west lafayette, joe paul, news 18.

Along with covid-19 cases - hospitalizations surged to