Letter to the editor: Pa. nursing home data errors alarming

After reading the article “Pa. nursing home data used to track covid-19 deaths, cases riddled with errors” (July 17, TribLIVE), I believe one might legitimately ask if there is some conspiracy afoot to shut down the economy. The Pennsylvania Department of Health showed 76,336 residents at an Elk County nursing home died of the virus when it is licensed to house 138 residents. It also listed 133 deaths at an Erie facility that housed 133 residents that had reported no cases with either residents or staff at the facility. After noting these “obvious and extreme errors,” the article described how systemic flaws in data reporting were undermining confidence and causing confusion.

Thanks to reporter Jamie Martines for doing the investigative homework.

Joyce K. Somers

Murrysville