HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - For-profit nursing homes in Connecticut had about 60% more cases of COVID-19and associated deaths per licensed bed than nonprofit facilities in the state,according to a third-party review of how the state, its nursing homes andassisted living centers prepared for and responded to the coronavirus pandemic. The report from the Princeton, New Jersey, research firm Mathematica wasreleased publicly on Tuesday. It also found that early responses to thecoronavirus outbreak were ``undermined by gaps in scientific knowledge about thehow the virus spreads,`` the factors that put people at risk and the range andseverity of symptoms _ especially among order people. ``Like much of the country, Connecticut long-term care facilities were hit hardby COVID-19,`` said Patricia Rowan, researcher at Mathematica and the project'sdirector, in a written statement. ``Our preliminary assessment of the state'sresponse found that state officials made policy decisions and issued guidancebased on the available knowledge at the time from national and stateepidemiologists and public health experts, but that knowledge was undermined bygaps in the scientific understanding of the virus.'' She credited the state with ``supporting this independent research'' andpredicted that recommendations included in the report will ensure Connecticutand its long-term care industry would be in a better position to respond to apotential second wave. In June, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont ordered the review, which included inputfrom the operators of the long-term care facilities, unions representing theworkers, patients, health experts and others. The report also determined that nursing homes in communities with more cases ofCOVID-19 ultimately had more cases themselves than those nursing homes locatedin cities and towns with lower rates of infection.
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