The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Texas nursing homes has significantly increased this month, with 8,291 confirmed cases on Monday.

This is four times more than the number of cases seen in all of June, according to a data from the state's health agency, which showed figures from 1,223 different nursing homes across Texas, 65 of which are in Houston. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 75 percent of nursing homes in Texas have reported at least one coronavirus case. In June, the numbers showed that only 50 percent of nursing homes had cases.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on Monday said it's the same story in the state's assisted living facilities, as 924 COVID-19 cases were reported. This was compared to the 267 cases in June, according to Texas Tribune.

Texas had 5,713 deaths linked to COVID-19, and a third of this came from nursing homes. On a national scale, more than 40 percent of COVID-19 deaths are related to senior care centers, a New York Times report said.

Data showed that there have been about 335,000 seniors infected by the coronavirus at some 15,000 care facilities as of July 23.

DSHS Spokesperson, Chris Van Deusen, said the striking increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases in Texas was what caused the surge of cases in nursing homes.

Details Released Amid Privacy Concerns

On Monday, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission released details on the COVID-19 cases in each Texas nursing home. At first, they insisted that the information did not have to be released to the public because of privacy laws. But the state attorney general's office ruled that they have to release it.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) stressed before, nursing home residents, who are the seniors of the U.S. population, are at high risk of being infected and dying from the virus. It is most lethal to those adults aged 60 and older, especially if they have existing health conditions.

If one case ends up in a senior care facility, it is more likely to spread easily between residents since people are kept together in a confined environment, where workers move from room to room.

Data showed that Brenham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center reported 25 deaths, the most in Texas. 

Afton Oaks Nursing Center in Houston, on the other hand, recorded the highest number of reported infected residents in the state, with 117 cases. At present, the staff said 46 residents are still positive, the KHOU 11 reported.

"Limits on visitation will continue, per guidance from the CDC, and we are working hard to make sure residents can still connect with their loved ones by phone, text, or video chat," the staff said in a statement.

Meanwhile, 20 deaths were reported in Focused Care at Westwood, the highest in Houston.

In a statement of posted in the firm's website last month, Focused Care founder and CEO Mark McKenzie said there is a "palpable frustration" from the public as protecting their elderly residents becomes "incredibly challenging."

Inaccuracies in Data

Texas local news agency KBMT-TV noted that there were inaccuracies in the data. They said there were previous reports of COVID-19 cases at College Street Health Care Center and Arden Place in Beaumont, but the two care facilities can't be found on the list provided on the state's website.

According to the state, nursing homes are supposed to "self-report" COVID-19 cases. The news agency reached out to officials for clarification, but they have yet to answer.

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