Ascension Presence Merkle-Knipprath Countryside Nursing Home in Clifton is the site of the latest long-term care facility outbreak in our area.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is now reporting 33 cases with one death at the Clifton care facility.
Merkle Kipprath first began reporting cases last weekend when two cases were listed on IDPH’s long-term care facility website page. On Wednesday, Iroquois County Health Department announced a dramatic sudden spike in cases which lead locals to believe there was an outbreak at the facility.
Of the 27 announced cases Wednesday, 22 were of the age 60 and over. Shortly after the Clifton zip case counts jumped dramatically. On Saturday, case counts were made official via IDPH.
Merkle Kipprath can provide care for 99 residents and employees over 70 people. Current residency totals are not known at this time.
