This week, a federal agency came out with data identifying nursing homes in Texas that experienced COVID-19 outbreaks. However, Texas health officials remained mum about it.

Specifically, the federal agency data identified around 150 facilities in Texas that have cases of the virus and more than 70 nursing homes where deaths of residents have been recorded.

The initial data which the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released, a federal agency, regulating nursing homes, is offering the first countrywide "snapshot of how each facility copes with an illness" that is specifically hazardous for senior residents.

Nearly 2,000 Infections and Over 320 Deaths in Nursing Homes 

In Texas, the data said, almost 2,000 infections and more than 320 deaths of nursing home residents due to COVID-19 were recorded in the latter part of May.

Specifically, Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation in El Paso reportedly had the highest number of confirmed cases in Texas with more 91 patients. 

This, based on a Houston Chronicle analysis, was equivalent to "700 cases in every 1,000 residents," positioning it "in the top 25 facilities in Texas" having the highest contagion rates among residents.

Additionally, the data indicated that Mountain View had more than 30 employees as well, who contracted the virus. However, according to reports, the facility did not report any shortages in staffing. As of this writing, the nursing home hasn't responded yet to the message left with its operator on Friday.

Remains Mum

Early last month, reports came out about the death toll that was growing at nursing homes and facilities in Texas.

Because of this, numerous requests for information which the health officials of the state had kept that would supposedly disclose which among the state's long-term care facilities were suffering from COVID-19 outbreaks.

However, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which controls assisted living facilities and nursing homes, is reportedly trying to keep the records confidential amid calls for transparency from Texas lawmakers, family members of the elderly, and assisted-living facilities. 

Joe Larsen, an attorney with the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas said, "The public is being left in the dark." More so, he continued, explaining the loss of control of the ability to oversee the government's operations.

Also last month, the said foundation published an open letter pressing the health commission to come out with its records on contagions in nursing homes.

Specifically, in a letter dated May 4, 2020, which was addressed to the Texas Attorney General's Office, the lawyer who represents the health commission, Carey smith said, the agency had received over two dozens of requests for public records for nursing home data, particularly referring to COVID-19 infections.

The commission's representative added though, the federal and state legislations do not allow the "release of such information as it might identify residents infected with the virus and violate their privacy."

Nevertheless, Texas lawmakers who authored one of the laws which Smith cited said, it is not prohibiting officials from releasing data about COVID-19 outbreaks in various nursing homes and facilities.

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