T-R FILE PHOTO Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson commends health care workers for their hard work.

Nursing homes across the country have been facing frequent COVID-19 outbreaks. Marshall County has seen its third care center outbreak with 33 people testing positive at Grandview Heights Rehab and Healthcare.

Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said it comes down to the weakened immune systems of residents.

“Most everybody in a care facility is vulnerable,” she said.

It has long been known that older people and those with pre-existing conditions are more susceptible to the coronavirus. When there is a large group of these vulnerable people living in close proximity, it is easy for the virus to be spread.

“It’s about weakened immune systems that are very susceptible,” Thompson said.

She emphasized staff and administrators at care centers are dedicated to keeping their residents safe.

“They’re working so hard,” Thompson said.

She added they are doing a “very, very good job” in the bad situation they are in.

Thompson said anyone can get the virus and it spreads very easily. She said once a vaccine is developed, it will be much easier to stop the spread.

Thompson urged people to be “intentional in protecting ourselves and the people around us.”

This can be done by wearing a mask and continuing to social distance.

Health care workers have been praised for putting their lives at risk to care for the sick, but Thompson said the way to offer relief to them is to help stop the spread. She said many are exhausted from the constant care they have had to give.

“We just have to be kind and patient,” Thompson said.

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Contact Anna Shearer at 641-753-6611 or ashearer@timesrepublican.com.