Alabama Nursing Home Association (ANHA) CEO Brandon Farmer said Monday that the Yellowhammer State has 31 nursing homes where someone has tested positive for coronavirus.

In some of the homes, it was a staff member who tested positive, and in others, it was a resident of the facility.

Farmer said the cases were “both at nursing homes in rural and urban locations,” adding, “These nursing homes are following the reporting guidelines and implementing isolation procedures.”

According to ANHA, Alabama has 231 nursing homes that care for approximately 24,500 elderly Alabamians and employ about 31,000 workers.

“Our members have taken the threat of COVID-19 seriously from the start. Most restricted or stopped visitation and began screening employees before state and federal government agencies required it,” promised Farmer.

According to CDC data, 4-11% of those 65 and older perish when contracting the virus. That number rises to 10-27% for anyone 85 and older.

Farmer added that the members of his association are still experiencing delays in getting test kits and test results, which is endangering the residents at the facilities.

“I predict the number of nursing homes with cases will grow as more tests are administered and the results are returned,” commented Farmer.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.