US: 2 residents die in viral outbreak at Seal Beach nursing home

Two residents have died and more than 60 have tested positive for the coronavirus at a skilled nursing facility in Seal Beach, officials said on Thursday.

Forty workers at the Seal Beach Health and Rehabilitation Center have also tested positive for the virus, the city’s police department said in a statement.

The virus was detected at the 186-bed facility in the small, seaside community in late May. After three weeks of widespread testing, the number of cases has grown, with 21 reported Wednesday, the facility said on its website.

Matthew Lysobey, the facility’s administrator, said in an email that staffing had been affected but “every individual is receiving exceptional care and attention.” He did not provide details of the staffing challenges.

The outbreak comes as California seeks to prevent the spread of the virus in skilled nursing facilities, where residents are especially vulnerable due to their age and health conditions and close proximity to each other.

More than 2,000 residents of skilled nursing facilities have died with the virus in California, accounting for 41% of the state’s virus deaths, according to state data.

More than 10,000 residents and more than 6,000 health care workers in California’s skilled nursing facilities have tested positive for the illness, the data shows.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause pneumonia and death.