It’s happening again.
While COVID-19 cases are up overall, they’re also rising inside some Bay Area nursing homes.
One contributing factor may be that unvaccinated staff are spreading the disease to seniors.
This month alone, at least 16 staff and 11 residents at long-term care facilities in Alameda County have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the county's Healthcare Services Agency. That’s the highest positivity since March.
"That’s where the rise happened in the beginning, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where it’s rising again now," said Dr. Danielle Williams with Roots Community Health Clinic in Oakland.
Two main reasons for COVID-19 springing up again in nursing homes is that the more contagious Delta variant is spreading and some staff might still be unvaccinated.
"It should be mandatory that they have themselves get the vaccine," said Alma Ferguson, who turns 90 Friday. "Because they’re protecting themselves and they're protecting others too."
Nationally, Medicare estimates 59% of nursing home staff have gotten the shot compared to about 80% of residents. And those low vaccination rates among staff have been linked to an increase in COVID-19 cases and even some deaths at senior facilities.
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