Nursing home COVID cases down 82% since December; doctors credit vaccine U.S. nursing homes reported a peak of nearly 6,000 COVID-related deaths in a single week of December 2020. Those were down to 2,200 in a single week of February. Author: Galen Ettlin Updated: 6:10 PM PST March 3, 2021 OREGON, USA — Positive COVID-19 cases and COVID-related deaths in U.S. nursing homes are dropping, and doctors credit the vaccine. People living and working in nursing homes were some of the first in line for vaccinations. Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), said prioritizing ongoing vaccination efforts in those facilities is critical. His organizations represent 14,000 long-term care facilities nationwide.