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Most people would probably like to see the number of area cases of COVID-19 reach zero. Among local nursing homes, the number is tantalizingly close.
In May 2020, Ohio nursing homes accounted for about 70 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the state. At the same time, Mahoning County long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, accounted for 72 percent of all COVID-19 deaths. On May 28, 2020, Mahoning County facilities had about 130 active cases.
But this week, Mahoning County nursing homes are down to four -- one each at four facilities.
A fifth facility -- Shepherd of the Valley in Boardman -- is listed as having three cases, but a Shepherd of the Valley spokesman told The Vindicator this week those numbers are erroneous and the facility has none.
Matthew Hoskins, a registered nurse and director of clinical services for Shepherd of the Valley facilities in Mahoning County, said Shepherd's Boardman facility has not had any COVID-19 cases for at least the last couple of months despite the listing by the Ohio Department of Health on its website.
Hoskins said Shepherd of the Valley is continuing to report its lack of cases in a database, but the number continues to be wrong.
Mahoning County Public Health officials acknowledge there have been instances where the numbers being reported on the Ohio Department of Health website are incorrect because facilities with no cases are being listed as still having cases.
When a facility lists the same number of cases for several weeks -- as has been the case with Shepherd of the Valley Boardman -- that is an indication the data is not being updated and is incorrect, said Tracy Styka, community health education specialist for Mahoning County Public Health.
Trumbull and Columbiana counties are reporting no current COVID-19 cases among patients or staff.
Deaths at local nursing homes climbed by one this week with Mahoning County having 282 total after having 281 last week. Trumbull still has 157, and Columbiana County still has 79.
Among the local prisons, the private Northeast Ohio Correctional Center in Youngstown has one active staff case of the virus. There are five such cases among the state's prisons. The Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown and Trumbull Correctional Institution in Leavittsburg have no current cases. There are no current inmate cases in any of Ohio's prisons, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
erunyan@vindy.com