Pictured is Chautauqua Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Temple Road in Dunkirk. Photo by Jo Ward

The number of COVID-19-related deaths among residents at Chautauqua County nursing homes has increased significantly in the last couple of days.

According to information provided by facilities and compiled by the New York State Department of Health, there have been 11 confirmed COVID deaths involving residents within local nursing homes. Of those, eight have come from Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dunkirk, two at Absolut Care of Westfield and one at Heritage Green in Greenhurst. Virus-related deaths at the Dunkirk facility have increased in the last few days, from three reported Saturday to eight Wednesday.

There also has been a death recorded at one adult care facility in the county — The Magnolia, an adult care facility and formerly known as the Frewsburg Rest Home.

The 12 total fatalities is still among the lowest of any county in the state.

Cattaraugus County has recorded three total deaths at nursing homes and adult care facilities. Erie County, meanwhile, has recorded 594 total confirmed and presumed deaths, one of the highest rates in the state.

It doesn’t appear the state includes information from assisted living facilities in its data.

Unlike most states with major outbreaks, New York only counts residents who died on nursing home property and not those who were transported to hospitals and died there.

The increase comes as several nursing and adult care facilities have reported clusters of COVID cases among residents and staff. On Monday, Heritage stated that 30 cases had been confirmed at Heritage Green and Heritage Village. Rapid testing took place after at least three cases were confirmed between staff and residents at the two locations.

More than 70 cases have been identified recently at Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Clusters also have been reported at Tanglewood locations in West Ellicott and Frewsburg.