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Coronavirus Updates For Western New England: Situation Worsens At Nursing Homes

A health care worker hands a mask to someone wanting to be tested for COVID-19 at a testing tent at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Jesse Costa
/
WBUR
A health care worker hands a mask to someone wanting to be tested for COVID-19 at a testing tent at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

The number of deaths in Massachusetts caused by the coronavirus eclipsed 200 on Saturday with 24 new fatalities from COVID-19 reported by the Department of Public Health. Of the 24 new deaths, 11 were from western Massachusetts.

As of Saturday afternoon, the state had confirmed 11,736 cases of COVID-19, an increase of 1,334 from the day before, and 216 deaths from the disease. The rapidly rising number of cases corresponds with increased testing.

Every one of the new deaths reported Saturday was someone 60 years-old or older, and the situation in nursing home and long-term care facilities continues to worsen. The number of positive COVID-19 residents in nursing homes, rest homes, and skilled nursing facilities climbed by almost 100 cases from 382 on Friday to 480 on Saturday, with 12 new facilities reporting at least one case of coronavirus for a total of 94.

Infection in the AdviniaCare nursing home in Wilmington, where 51 of the 98 residents tested positive, forced the state to suspend its plan to move all patients to another facility to free up beds for COVID-19 patients.

Gov. Baker took a break Saturday from the routine of daily press briefing after announcing Friday new plans to deploy as many as 1,000 people trained by the Partners in Health group to trace contacts of all patients who contract COVID-19, describing it as a first-in-the-nation effort to understand the full risks of transmission.

This is also the first weekend in Massachusetts that restaurants have been able to sell beer and wine with take-out orders since Baker forced them to stop serving customers on March 16, and transition to a take-out only business model.

Elsewhere in New England

Connecticut on Saturday announced 33 additional deaths of patients testing positive for COVID-19, bringing its total to 165 so far. The state has recorded 5,276 positive tests, including 362 new laboratory-confirmed cases announced Saturday.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Vermont increased to 461, up 72 from Friday. The state said those numbers also included two cases from March that were not included until now. The number of deaths tied to COVID-19 in Vermont increased by three in Saturday's update, for a total of 20.

Rhode Island officials reported three more deaths in their update Saturday, bringing the state's total to 17, with 806 people testing positive. At least six of the deaths are attributed to an outbreak at the Golden Crest Nursing Centre in North Providence.

Maine's death toll as of Saturday increased by three, to 10. The state has announced 456 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19.

And in New Hampshire, two additional deaths were announced, bringing the total to nine. To date, 621 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Hampshire.

On the honor system: Mass. has new hotel rules

Massachusetts has in place restrictions on who can stay in lodging establishments, amid the COVID-19 outbreak. That means hotel workers and innkeepers have to vet why guests need a room. The temporary regulations are designed to discourage leisure travel, including those from out-of-state. Health care workers, those self-isolating or facing an emergency are among those allowed to get a room.

Shardool Parmar is president of the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, which runs several properties in western Mass. He said his staff are asking guests why they are staying, but it's really an honor system.

"It's hard to confirm if somebody's house burned down, or if somebody is displaced for one reason or another, or they're coming to provide care for a family member," he said. 

The restrictions cover hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, as well as short-term rentals such as properties listed on Airbnb.

Advocate: Group Home Testing Needed

One of the state's leading advocacy groups for people with developmental disabilities said Saturday that all residents of group homes should be tested for the coronavirus, even if they are asymptomatic. The Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates said that in addition to testing, cleaning teams should be deployed to all group homes in the Department of Developmental Services systems.

"We recognize these are exceptionally difficult times for DDS, and that the Department is under unprecedented pressure to keep its system functioning. At the same time, it doesn't appear the Department is dealing effectively with the situation," said COFAR Executive Director Colleen M. Lutkevich in a statement.

COFAR said it has received reports DDS clients losing services because group home staff are quitting or being ordered by some providers not to enter residences.

Disaster declarations for New Hampshire and Maine

The federal government has approved requests for major disaster declarations from Maine and New Hampshire.

Gov. Janet Mills of Maine said the approval means state agencies and municipalities will be reimbursed for 75% of approved costs associated with their COVID-19 response. The state's other requests for disaster assistance that would help support child care, behavioral health, and legal services are still pending, Mills said.

Meanwhile, prison officials in New Hampshire are seeking donations to make masks for inmates. The state Department of Corrections said inmates have run out of polyester or polyester-cotton blend fabric and ¼-inch elastic for the masks.

NEPR's Adam Frenier and Sam Hudzik contributed to this report, along with Matt Murphy of the State House News Service. This report also includes information from the Associated Press and The Public's Radio.

New England Public Media's newsroom is located at 44 Hampden Street, Springfield, MA 01103-1413. Send news tips or press releases via email, or call the newsroom directly at 413-735-6622. Keep up with New England Public Media on Facebook or Twitter.
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