NEW from @KFF: Cases & deaths in LTCFs are at an all-time low, both dropping ~90% since the start of vaccinations in mid-December 2020.

We& #39;ve been tracking state-reported LTC COVID data since last April & these are the most hopeful findings thus far: https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/covid-19-long-term-care-deaths-and-cases-are-at-an-all-time-low-though-a-rise-in-ltc-cases-in-a-few-states-may-be-cause-for-concern">https://www.kff.org/coronavir...

The share of COVID-19 deaths in LTCFs has dropped significantly since its peak in June 2020 (49%). The most recent cut of data puts that share at 34% for the set of states included in this analysis.

This share was 42% when LTC vaccines began in mid-December 2020.

21 states reported their lowest LTCF death rates in April 2021, including 5 states that reported zero* COVID-19 LTCF deaths per 100,000 state residents in April 2021.

*These are rounded values that represent a small number of LTCF deaths in these states.

8 states reported an increase in LTCF cases between March & April 2021, ranging from a 6% increase in New Hampshire to 150%+ increases in Connecticut & Michigan.

These increases are likely tied with increased cases in the surrounding community.

No states reported both an increase in LTC deaths and LTC cases, a hopeful sign that vaccines are doing their job in protecting infected LTC residents and staff against severe illness and death.