In response to a Sentinel inquiry May 14, the state Department of Health confirmed that it intends to begin identifying infections/deaths attributable to COVID-19 at nursing and long-term care facilities.
‘‘The department has required all nursing homes to provide this information … starting May 17, and we will be working to share the data publicly once we have complete data reported to us,’’ according to Maggi Mumma, the department’s deputy press secretary.
The Sentinel will report data regarding facilities in its circulation region once the Health Department makes the information available and not before that time.
‘‘The question to release the data is one that has been significantly weighed. We are working to ensure we protect the right to privacy of Pennsylvanians, including our most vulnerable. That has been our viewpoint from the beginning,’’ Mumma added.