CAMDEN - The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to hit hard at South Jersey seniors, with officials on Friday reporting more deaths for people in their 80s and 90s.
And Camden County authorities noted a severe toll at long-term care faciities, saying their residents represent 76 of the county's 98 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.
"We are horrified by the loss of lives in these institutions," Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said in a statement that described the centers as "high-density facilities."
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"What we are finding are many of these facilities across the board were severely underprepared for the outbreak," said Cappelli.
He said the county was seeking to address problems that include "a lack of testing, or no testing at all, a shortage of PPEs and staffing shortfalls across the board."
Camden County reported one new victim Friday, a Cherry Hill woman in her 90s.
Burlington County said it lost four residents in their 80s — two men from Moorestown, one from Mount Laurel and a woman from Hainesport.
It also noted the death of a 77-year-old woman from Bordentown City.
It could not be determined if any of the latest victims were residents of long-term care centers.
Many of those facilities have seen multiple deaths across South Jersey, according to numbers released Friday by the state Department of Health.
In Camden County, the largest number of deaths, 13, struck residents of Avista Healthcare in Cherry Hill.
Twelve deaths were reported at Voorhees Center and 10 at Lions Gate Continuing Care Retirement Community in Voorhees.
The Department of Health listed 62 deaths for long-term care facilities in Burlington County, which has 83 deaths overall.
Fifteen deaths were reported at Marcella Center in Burlington Township. That was followed by eight deaths each at three sites —- Masonic Village at Burlington, CareOne at Evesham and Virtua Health and Rehabilitation Center at Mount Holly.
The state said 17 of Gloucester County's 30 fatalities lived in long-term care centers. That included seven deaths at Manor Care West Deptford.
Eighteen deaths were reported at Atlantic County facilities, including six each at Egg Harbor Care Center in Egg Harbor and in Hammonton Center. The county's overall toll is 29 deaths.
The health department also reported 12 deaths at Genesis Healthcare Victoria Manor in Cape May County, where no other center has reported a fatality.
The state reported no deaths at Cumberland County facilities and four in Salem County.
Cappelli said Camden County now will provide daily updates on COVID-19 confirmed cases of staff and residents, and deaths at its 56 long-term care facilities.
The state report shows 455 COVID-19 cases at the county's long-term care centers. That compares to a total caseload for Camden County of more than 2,400 patients.
Voorhees Center led the county with 103 cases, followed by Premier Cadbury at Cherry Hill with 59 and Lions Gate with 54, according to the report.
Cappelli said the county is pursuing multiple measures to combat "this insidious virus."
He noted county health inspectors have taken over random inspections of long-term care facilities with at least two confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Those reviews, previously handled by the state, have found staffing issues at care facilities, said the freeholder.
"The county will be investigating the opportunity to close the gap through our one-stop and work force investment board," Cappelli said..
He said the county also "coordinated a conference call with most facility providers to have a candid conversation about their needs and procedures."
As a result, freeholders are offering "logistical guidance" and co-op pricing for testing of residents and staff at the institutions, Cappelli said.
He noted the state health department has commissioned Cooper University Healthcare to test all patients and staff in South Jersey's long-term care facilities.
In addition, Cappelli noted the county's Office of Emergency Management has delivered more than 100,000 pieces of protective equipment to the centers, with more supplies available.
Jim Walsh is a free-range reporter who’s been roaming around South Jersey for decades. His interests include crime, the courts, economic development and being first with breaking news. Reach him at jwalsh@gannettnj.com.
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