Testing explains why the Crandall Medical Center nursing home in Sebring is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, its CEO says.

Crandall, a 176-bed rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility on the campus of Copeland Oaks Retirement Community, has had 68 patients with the virus and 12 staff through Wednesday, CEO David Mannion said.

Last week when the Ohio Department of Health put out its list, Crandall had 10 patients and three staff with the virus.

The new list released on the Ohio Department of Health website Wednesday afternoon showed that Mahoning County now has 20 long-term care facilities on the list compared to 16 the previous week.

But even more striking was that there have now been 46 deaths at Mahoning County long-term care facilities, compared to 15 last week, ODH data indicates. Trumbull nursing home deaths rose from nine to 10, and Columbiana County nursing home deaths increased from six to 10 .

Mannion said the reason for the jump in cases is that the company decided to test all residents after getting its first patient case April 24. Fifty of the 68 who tested positive did not even show symptoms of the virus.

“But we tested them all,” he said. “We were willing to endure any type of public perception in favor of offering these individuals … the best chance at early treatment and best chance of an avoidance of a major illness.”

After the first diagnosed case, the center “committed to test all of our 147 residents,” Mannion said. “While few facilities have done this, we knew it gave us the best chance of identifying and beginning isolation and early treatment for those with the virus.”

Within a week of the first diagnosed case, the facility had plans in place to test every resident, he said. It had its second case April 27 and its third case April 28.

The company has 1,100 residents and staff, but it has acquired the necessary amount of personal protective equipment and other supplies, Mannion stated.

Crandall is awaiting test results on 10 more patients. Four Crandall patients have died from the virus. The facility’s medical director is ordering a second round of tests in 14 days for all residents who tested positive.

Crandall Medical Center Administrator Randi Roose said COVID-19 is different from most viral infections in that a typical infection causes a person to feel ill, alerting him or her to restrict encounters with others.

“However, an asymptomatic COVID-19 individual continues to move around spreading the virus, maximizing transmission,” she said.

No resident or employee of Copeland Oaks, the independent living and assisted living areas of the campus, has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the company stated.

Last week, another Mahoning County nursing home — Windsor House Omni Manor on Vestal Road in Youngstown — had a surge in COVID-19 cases after testing every patient at its facility.

Mahoning County nursing home COVID listings

The Ohio Department of Health updated its list of COVID-19-related cases at nursing homes and long-term care facilities Wednesday. There are 1,684 current patient cases in Ohio nursing homes and 670 staff cases. There are totals of 3,051 patient cases and 1,334 staff. The first numbers are for April 29 to May 6. The second numbers date back to April 15.

MAHONING COUNTY (20)

Beeghly Oaks nursing home in Boardman, 17 patients and 2 staff members / total of 34 patients and 7 staff

Caprice Healthcare Center nursing home in North Lima, 0 patients and 1 staff members / total of 0 patients and 1 staff

Center for Rehabilition nursing home (town not given), 0 patients and 1 staff members / total of 0 patients and 1 staff

Continuing Healthcare of Boardman nursing home, 3 patients and 1 staff / total of 10 patients and 3 staff

Crandall Medical Center nursing home in Sebring, 53 patients and 8 staff / total of 63 patients and 11 staff

Hampton Woods nursing home in Poland, 0 patients and 0 staff / total of 0 patients and 2 staff

Humility House nursing home in Austintown, 16 patients and 10 staff / total of 21 patients and 15 staff

The Inn at Glenellen assisted living in North Lima, 1 patient and 0 staff / total of 3 patients and 4 staff

The Inn at Ironwood assisted living in Canfield, 0 patients and 1 staff member / total of 0 patients and 1 staff

Marian Living Center assisted living in North Lima, 5 patients and 3 staff members / total of 6 patients and 5 staff

Masternick Memorial nursing home in New Middletown, 13 patients and 8 staff / total of 43 patients and 16 staff

Park Center nursing home in Boardman, 3 patients and 5 staff members / total of 3 patients and 5 staff

Park Vista nursing home in Youngstown, 4 patients and 3 staff / total of 9 patients and 10 staff

Shepherd of the Valley nursing home in Boardman, 11 patients and 8 staff / total of 22 patients and 8 staff

Shepherd of the Valley Poland assisted living, 6 patients and 3 staff / total of 6 patients and 3 staff

Shepherd of the Valley Poland nursing home, 0 patients and 1 staff / total of 0 patients and 1 staff

St. Mary Alzheimer’s Center nursing home near Columbiana, 14 patients and 0 staff / total of 41 patients and 34 staff

Victoria House Assisted Living, 0 patients and 1 staff member / total of 0 patients and 1 staff

Windsor House at Canfield nursing home, 2 patients and 0 staff / total 8 patients, 3 staff

Windsor House at Omni Manor nursing home, Youngstown, 21 patients and 12 staff members / total of 62 patients, 26 staff

Source: Ohio Department of Health

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