Coronavirus In Brookline: Dozens Test Positive At 2 Faciilities

BROOKLINE, MA — There are about 50 people, 12 staff members who have tested positive for the new coronavirus at CareOne at Brookline nursing facility in Coolidge Corner and 13 residents and four staff members at the Goddard House assisted living home have tested positive after the National Guard helped test staff and residents and patients at both facilities.

Of the 212 people who have tested positive for the virus in Brookline, at least 50 of them live at one of those two congregant living facilities in town. It's not clear if any of the six people who have died in Brookline related to the coronavirus were residents of either location.

The number reveal comes as staff and residents at long-term care facilities account for more than half the deaths in Massachusetts, according to new state data.

The average age of people who have died of COVID-19 in those facilities is 81, the state Department of Public Health said this week. The death rate of those 80 and older 421 per 100,000 Tuesday - more than four times as high as the next hardest-hit age group.

The infection rate among those 80 and older has skyrocketed with increased testing at long-term care facilities, according to state data.

Such facilities have seen fatality numbers pile up at a stunning rate. The Soldiers' Home in Holyoke is under federal scrutiny after more than 62 people died, most of whom tested positive for COVID-19.

• Related: How MA Nursing Homes Control Infections

The nursing home on Park Street with 120 beds, notified the state it had more than 30 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, according to the Massachusetts Department of Health. Facilities are required to report their numbers to the state, which has just recently begun to release estimates for facilities with more than two cases. It doesn't specify numbers above 30.

Brookline’s Director of Health and Human Services Dr. Swannie Jett said Tuesday that about 38 of 99 residents and 12 staff of more than 100 had tested positive for the coronavirus at CareOne.
"You're looking at 2/3rd that have it," said Jett.

Those who have tested positive have been separated from the rest of the population at CareOne, he said.

Earlier this week Jett announced that the Massachusetts National Guard was deployed to CareOne at Brookline and the Goddard House Assisted Living, to conduct coronavirus testing.

Goddard House, an assisted living home, has 13 cases among residents and four among staff, according to the facility.

The National Guard mobile testing program tested 97 of 111 residents who requested or wanted testing. And 50 of 124 staff were tested, according to officials from the Goddard House.

Goddard House staff has been monitoring residents for symptoms, conducting daily health screenings of all staff, and meeting or exceeding CDC and state health guidance to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to Candace Cramer who is the president of the facility.

A team from the National Guard recently tested residents and staff, and the results of that testing show that 13 residents and four employees have tested positive.

"We have notified residents and their family members, as well as staff who are now self-isolating at home," said Cramer in a statement. "Residents who are positive are receiving care in isolation. Our incredible staff are doing a tremendous job providing care and comfort to our residents during this challenging health crisis, and we are grateful for their commitment and dedication."

Patch has reached out to CareOne and Wingate, where Jett told the Select Board he was also looking into "issues."

Read more:

• Coronavirus in Brookline: Number Of Cases Now Above 200
• Brookline School Closure Extended Through End Of Year
• Search For Interim Superintendent Underway In Brookline
• National Guard Deployed To Brookline Facilities

See Jett speaking to the select board Tuesday:

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).