Eleven Hamilton County residents living in long-term care facilities have died as of April 14 after contracting COVID-19, according to county officials.
“This is not unexpected, as our most vulnerable populations reside in our many long-term care facilities,” Hamilton County spokesperson Tammy Sander said. “All facilities have instituted infection control measures and are constantly monitoring residents and staff for symptoms of COVID-19.”
The county declined to release specific information on deaths or identify in which facility they occurred.
Seniors and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to suffer serious complications as a result of COVID-19, which can sometimes lead to death. In Indiana, approximately 20 percent of reported COVID-19 cases have been among people age 70 and older, while nearly 70 percent of the state’s deaths have occurred in that age group.
In Carmel, Mayor Jim Brainard has asked all nursing home and senior living facility employees to be tested for COVID-19 and for residents in those facilities to be tested if a positive case is found.
