Beverly Coronavirus: Three New Cases At Nursing Home

BEVERLY, MA —The number of confirmed coronavirus cases at Care One at Essex Park in Beverly jumped to at least 13 over the weekend, according to family members of patients.

Victor Lopez said staff had told his family that there were 12 cases at the facility on Friday, a day after Patch first reported about problems at CareOne. On Sunday, Lopez's mother, who is a resident of the memory care unit at CareOne, tested positive, bringing the number of cases to at least 13.

"To me it seems they're not being transparent and that they are trying to protect their reputation," Lopez said. He said he contacted the Massachusetts Attorney General's office, which is already investigating an outbreak of the new coronavirus at a Holyoke veterans home.

Brenna House, the administrator at CareOne at Essex Park, and Patricia Chiorello, senior vice president of communications for CareOne, have not responded to phone messages requesting comment.

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On Saturday, the state Department of Public Health said 44 percent of the people who have died of coronavirus in Massachusetts were nursing home residents. In Massachusetts, 199 nursing homes have reported at least one case among staff and patients, and 3,050 of the state's25,475 cases were linked to long-term care facilities.

Lopez and other family members of patients interviewed by Patch said staff told them their loved ones who had tested positive were being isolated in their rooms. CareOne, the national company that owns and operates CareOne at Essex Park, suspended visits to all of its facilities on March 12.

"They supposedly are monitoring all residents as well as all staff and delivery personnel every day," Lopez said.

More Coronavirus Coverage On Massachusetts Patch:

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• How To Get Health Care If You're Uninsured During Coronavirus
• Bells Ring At Otherwise Silent Churches Amid Continued Shutdown
• Newly Found Commuter Cash Helping Needy During Crisis

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).