ISHPEMING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services found multiple deficiencies in an Ishpeming nursing home’s attempt to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The MDHHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services conducted a survey of Mission Point Nursing and Rehabilitation Center “for the purpose of COVID-19-focused infection control” from Nov. 12 through Nov. 25.

Mission Point has reported that 49 residents have tested positive since Nov. 2, one resident remains hospitalized and nine have died, based on a Dec. 18 statement to The Mining Journal.

According to an MDHHS report based on observations, interviews and record review, the Ishpeming facility “failed to maintain infection control program practices to prevent continued spread of COVID-19 within the facility.”

Among the findings were: failure to ensure appropriate quarantine precautions for COVID-19 positive and presumptive positive facility residents; failure to properly use personal protective equipment to prevent transmission of the virus; failure to post transmission-based precaution signage to identify COVID-19 positive and presumptive positive residents; failure to maintain social distancing and masking between residents with a presumptive positive diagnosis and residents who were COVID-19 negative; and failure to complete infection control surveillance and analysis including facility employee infections to prevent the potential transmission of the virus.

“The deficient practice resulted in the transmission of COVID-19 which had the potential to affect all 53 residents residing in the facility,” the MDHHS survey states.

Mission Point officials filed a response to the report on Friday.

“We have developed a correction plan for the items listed in the report. That plan will be submitted to the appropriate state of Michigan team today,” Mission Point Administrator Andrea Olsen stated in an email. “We look forward to sharing those plans and corrective actions with The Mining Journal once they have been reviewed and approved. Our number one priority remains the health and safety of our residents, staff and community.”

According to a statewide report on COVID-19’s effect on long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, 1,399 new cases among residents were reported as of Dec. 14 with 316 resident deaths. There have been 18,722 resident cases and 4,020 total resident deaths since the inception of the report, which includes 1,349 licensed facilities, including skilled nursing, homes for the aged, adult foster care and long-term care facilities across the state.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Marquette County were reported at 3,033 as of Saturday, with 48 deaths.

Marquette County Health Department Medical Director Dr. Robert Lorinser said in a phone conversation that while complaints or concerns about care at a specific facility should go through state channels, he did note that those living in congregate living environments tend to be more vulnerable to COVID-19.

“The increased number of deaths recently identified in Marquette County largely stem from the most vulnerable of our population — the elderly and others with significant medical problems residing in congregate living situations. As stated by the CDC, ‘The communal nature of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and the population served — generally older adults often with underlying medical conditions — put those living in nursing homes at increased risk of infection and severe illness from COVID-19.’ Nursing homes work closely with local, state and federal health authorities to provide the best COVID prevention and mitigating strategies available,” Lorinser said in an email statement on Thursday. “We all look forward to the COVID vaccine and the prioritization given to those facilities for administration. The local health departments will continue to work closely with and provide resources to our partners during this tragic pandemic.”