Coronavirus: 7th, 8th deaths connected to Miami County nursing homes

Koester Pavilion in Troy is one of two Miami County nursing homes in which coronavirus is suspected to have spread. Springmeade Health Center in Tipp City also has presumptive positive cases now. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

Koester Pavilion in Troy is one of two Miami County nursing homes in which coronavirus is suspected to have spread. Springmeade Health Center in Tipp City also has presumptive positive cases now. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

Eight patients have now died in connection to a coronavirus cluster at Miami County nursing homes as officials on Thursday announced the two more deaths.

>> Miami County coronavirus cases up by dozen in a day

Miami County Coroner Dr. William Ginn identified the latest patients to die as James Cuzzwort, a resident of SpringMeade, and Gloria Anderson, who had been a patient at Koester Pavilion.

He did not have their ages, but Miami County Public Health Commissioner Dennis Propes said the man was 90 and the woman 68.

>> Fifth, sixth deaths reported in Miami County coronavirus outbreak

Miami County has recorded the third-most deaths of Ohio’s 88 counties, according to state statistics. Only Cuyahoga County with 12 deaths and Mahoning County with 11 are higher, and both of those counties have much larger populations.

As of Thursday, Miami County has 62 COVID-19 cases, which is two fewer than reported Wednesday due to jurisdiction changes, Miami County Public Health reported Thursday in a news release.

That figure represented about a 20 percent increase from the day before.

Of the cases, 44 are connected to SpringMeade and Koester Pavilion, but two involved people from outside of Miami County and are under other health departments’ jurisdiction. The remaining 20 cases are not related to the nursing home outbreaks.

>> Coronavirus: Complete coverage

Propes said some patients remain hospitalized but that no new cases have been reported in the last four or five days connected to the nursing homes where residents and workers became sick.

>> Coronavirus in nursing homes: 'We are going to see deaths'

For those who develop COVID-19 symptoms, health officials suggest calling your health care provider first. For mild symptoms, stay at home and treat yourself. For more severe symptoms, seek medical attention.

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