After more than 20 cases of COVID-19 at a Keys nursing home, congresswoman wants answers

Jun. 24--A U.S. congresswoman wants answers from the owners of a Florida Keys nursing home that has become a cluster for the novel coronavirus about their plans to contain the deadly disease that has infected more than 20 residents and staff members.

Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, whose district includes the Keys, also wants to know how the owners are improving Crystal Health and Rehab Center on Plantation Key after a recent report by a state agency revealed unsanitary conditions and inadequate care.

The May report, from Florida'sAgency for Health Care Administration, which regulates Florida nursing homes, said the agency discovered 13 people had died at Crystal Health, including seven who may have had COVID-19.

Crystal Health did not report the deaths to the Florida Department of Health.

In a letter sent Tuesday to one of the center's owners, Mucarsel-Powell called reports she has received from residents' family members "unconscionable."

The recipient of the letter, Jacob Walden, one of the owners of Emerald Healthcare, which owns Crystal Health, did not immediately return a call for comment Tuesday.

Mucarsel-Powell in May said she met with "exasperated" relatives of residents and then went to the nursing home to speak with its director.

"They reported the misuse and shortage of masks, testing being damaged or contaminated resulting in the need to re-test, not being updated on the status of their loved ones in the facility, and having to rely on local media to hear about test results instead of hearing directly from the nursing home," wrote Mucarsel-Powell.

"Other constituents have also reported to me that the staffing levels at the facility are not meeting state minimum standards, with at times one or two staff members responsible for tending to all residents," she wrote.

Mucarsel-Powell's 10 questions listed in the letter include, "What cleaning and disinfection protocols are you taking?" and "How often are you having the residents and staff tested for COVID-19 cases?"

She also wants to know what Crystal Health is doing to ensure staff have the proper protective equipment needed daily and that the center is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mucarsel-Powell, who said she wore a mask at the center, ended up being exposed to COVID-19 while there and self-quarantined until she learned she had tested negative for the virus.

Crystal Health has about 80 residents and 70 staff members.

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