Latest COVID-19 Nursing Home Data – CMS, CDC and NHSN

Posted in COVID-19, Senior Living

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP
Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare

CMS has just posted the COVID-19 nursing home data for the week ending January 1, 2023.  CMS took a break for 2 weeks over the holidays.

Comparing the January 1, 2023 data to the December 18, 2022 data shows these changes:

  • Resident primary vaccination completion rate decreased 0.1% during the last 2 weeks of 2022;
  • Residents up to date with vaccines increased 1.5% during the last 2 weeks of 2022;
  • Staff primary vaccination completion rate remained the same;
  • Staff up to date with vaccines increased 0.2% during the last 2 weeks of 2022;
  • An additional 35,956 resident cases were confirmed during the last 2 weeks of 2022;
  • An additional 701 resident deaths were reported during the last 2 weeks of 2022;
  • An additional 27,730 staff cases were confirmed during the last 2 weeks of 2022;
  • An additional 39 staff deaths were reported during the last 2 weeks of 2022;

Be sure to review your facility’s vaccination rates on the list of every nursing home with recent resident and staff vaccination rates and other pertinent data as this data will be used for completing the COVID-19 Matrix during survey. State surveyors look at this data in preparation for your survey. You’ll also need to know your current rate (as reported to NHSN) and provide it to the survey team entering your facility. This data is current as of the week ending January 1, 2023.

The CDC COVID Data Tracker shows these current community transmission levels as of January 2, 2023:

The NHSN Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard provides this data as of January 9, 2023 at 5:30am ET:

The chart below is found on the CDC Trends in Number of COVID-19 Vaccinations in the US website.

This is a summary of data reported on January 6, 2023, from CDC’s COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review:

  • COVID-19 activity remains high across the country. As of January 4, 2023, there have been a total of 101,094,670 COVID-19 cases and 1,091,184 deaths from COVID-19 reported in the United States.
  • The current 7-day average of weekly new cases (67,243) increased 16.2% compared with the previous 7-day average (57,847).
  • The current 7-day daily average of hospitalizations for December 28, 2022-January 3, 2023 was 6,519. This is a 16.1% increase from the prior 7-day average (5,613).
  • The current 7-day average of new deaths (390) increased 8.3% compared with the previous 7-day average (360).
  • The most prevalent Omicron lineages this week are BQ.1.1, projected to be 34.4% (95% PI 26.7-43.0%); XBB.1.5, projected to be 27.6% (95% PI 14.0-46.5); and BQ.1, projected to be 21.4% (95% PI 16.1-27.7%). 
  • About 665.1 million vaccine doses have been administered in the United States. 
  • About 229.3 million people have completed a primary series, and more than 48.2 million people have received an updated (bivalent) booster dose. 
  • CDC recommends getting the new updated bivalent booster if you have not done so. The booster offers added protection against circulating variants.
  • XBB.1.5 is the primary lineage increasing in proportion in the United States in this week’s CDC report. The largest increase was reported in the Northeast region of the country.

If you’re interested in the COVID-19 variants currently being tracked in the U.S., access the CDC  Summary of Variant Surveillance website.  This page summarizes three different systems being used, including the 1) National SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance System, the 2) National Wastewater Surveillance System, and the 3) Traveler-based SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance Program.

Nationally, elevated levels of multiple respiratory viruses continue, with flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) responsible for most respiratory illness. Seasonal flu activity remains high but continues to decline in most areas. Hospitalizations from COVID-19 increased from the previous week. RSV activity remains elevated but is decreasing in all regions. RSV activity continues to suggest the peak of seasonal activity has passed in all regions.  Data reported on January 6, 2023, from CDC’s FluView:

  • Seasonal flu activity remains high but continues to decline in most areas. CDC estimates that as of December 31, 2022, there have been at least 22 million flu illnesses, 230,000 hospitalizations, and 14,000 deaths from flu this season.
  • There were 18,954 flu hospitalizations reported nationally last week. This is similar to the 18,965 hospitalizations reported the week prior, but less than reported previously.
  • There were 13 reported flu pediatric deaths this past week for a total of 74 flu pediatric deaths this season.
  • As of December 31, 2022, 170.71 million doses of flu vaccine have been distributed in the United States.
  • An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu. Vaccination helps reduce the risk of infection and can prevent serious outcomes in people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu. 
  • CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine annually. CDC continues to recommend vaccination at this time for people who have not yet been vaccinated this season.