Des Moines Sun

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Iowa nursing homes as facilities reported a 26% increase in outbreaks from Nov. 2 to Nov. 12.

This comes as Gov. Kim Reynolds has voiced strong opposition toward the vaccine mandate from the administration of President Joe Biden, saying it could worsen staff shortages in nursing homes during a time of need.

“They’re already stretched so thin and they are a phenomenal example of the heroes that have been on the front line from the very beginning and, you know, they don’t get to shut down for a couple of days like a restaurant or a manufacturing facility,” Reynolds said, according Radio Iowa. “They have vulnerable older Iowans that they need to take care of. And so if you don’t have staff to do that, what do we do?”

An AARP analysis indicates 71% of Iowa nursing home staff have been fully vaccinated, while the vaccination rate among Iowa nursing home residents sits at 93%, according to Radio Iowa.

Vaccination rates among staff have increased from October to November.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch reported 29 nursing homes in the state are experiencing active COVID-19 outbreaks, with 275 cases associated across the facilities. Care facilities had reported active outbreaks with 226 cases tied to the nursing homes on Nov. 2.