Response to characteristics of nursing homes associated with COVID-19 outbreaks and mortality among residents in Victoria, Australia.

The article by Ibrahim et al sets out to determine nursing home characteristics associated with COVID‐19 outbreak, outbreak size, and mortality. Standard statistical analysis of this question was undertaken with appropriate methodology and the results presented, however, the stated findings are not supported by that analysis.

The key findings ‐ with associated p‐values in brackets ‐ are intrusion that occurred was large (0.60) metropolitan‐based homes, with private ownership (0.15) and previous non‐compliance with the ACQSC (0.14). Homes with larger outbreaks had shared accommodation (0.14) and were owned by a large chain operator (0.071). The factors more common in facilities with high CFRs had a not‐for‐profit provider (0.22) and close proximity to a high‐risk industry (0.44).

Using standard statistical methodology, then, none of these factors were associated with the outcomes of interest. This substantially changes the conclusions of the article.