Surveillance of COVID-19 in long-stay centers: the effect of the pandemic in nursing homes

This report shows the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in the long-term care facilities (LTCF) for elderly throughout 2021 and until the 17th week of 2022. Since its start-up in January 2021, this surveillance has provided aggregated national weekly data, with information on the proportion of LTCF for elderly affected by COVID-19, the incidence of COVID-19 and fatal cases among a vulnerable population where the effects of the pandemic have been and are being especially severe. The comparison with the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 cases in noninstitutionalized elderly shows how the impact of COVID-19 is being greater among the elderly living in nursing homes, with more fatal cases than the rest of the population of the same age.