45 virus deaths recorded at Henrico County nursing home

Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center announced Tuesday that the number of COVID-19 deaths among residents has risen to 45, including three fatalities over the past 24 hours.

The Henrico County long-term nursing facility reported that 83 living residents have tested positive; many have shown no symptoms, but some are receiving care in regional hospitals or onsite. Thirty-five staff members also have tested positive, and according to the center, nearly a dozen have recovered and are back at work, serving residents who are positive.

Last week, Canterbury passed the number of coronavirus-related deaths at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, Washington, which has recorded 43 fatalities and was an early hotspot in the United States coronavirus outbreak. More than 3,600 of the nation’s 24,737 recorded COVID-19 deaths have been linked to outbreaks at nursing homes and long-term care facilities, according to a report from The Associated Press.

According to the most recent information from the Virginia Department of Health, Henrico County has the most virus deaths in the state at 33 — a number that reflects the reporting lag. Fairfax County, which has 1,207 confirmed cases as of Tuesday morning, reported 21 fatal cases. Henrico, by contrast, has only 432 confirmed cases.

Dr. Danny Avula, director of Henrico and Richmond health departments, explained recently that some results of tests conducted at Canterbury were provided by private labs and that VDH must certify such results before they’re reflected on the statewide dashboard. Since March 30, every resident and staff member has been tested at Canterbury, working with the center’s medical director and the health department.