Veterans' Homes Coronavirus Deaths: 22 In Holyoke, 3 In Chelsea

CHELSEA, MA — A third veteran has died and six staff members and 14 residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus at the Chelsea Soldiers Home, while the number of veteran deaths has risen to 22 at the Holyoke Veterans' Home.

All Chelsea residents will be tested by the end of the weekend, the state said, and staff testing is also set to wrap up by then.

"The Commonwealth continues to respond aggressively to meet the needs of the veterans and staff of the Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers' Homes, including deploying additional staff support, supplies, and resources for veteran residents, families, and employees during this unprecedented pandemic," the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services said in a statement.

The Chelsea Soldiers' Home - which has offered residential and long term care programs to eligible Massachusetts Veterans since 1882 -started restricting visitors in mid-March.

Cheryl Pope, superintendent of the facility, was temporarily reassigned to the Holyoke Soldiers' Home to respond to a coronavirus outbreak there. Gov. Charlie Baker said this weekend at 22 veterans had died at Holyoke. Of the 22 who died, 16 tested positive for the coronavirus. Three tests are still pending, and two were negative while one other is unknown, the state reported. Overall, 59 Holyoke residents have tested positive and 159 have tested negative. Eighteen staff members have tested positive for the virus. Fourteen veteran residents have now tested positive, 19 have tested negative and six staff have tested positive. The number is likely to rise as results continue to come back.

Holyoke Superintendent Bennett Walsh was placed on paid administrative leave Monday. Baker said the state learned of the situation late Sunday and has deployed a range of resources, including the National Guard and medical professionals from other facilities, to the home.

The Massachusetts case count grew to more than 11,000 on Saturday, including 219 deaths.

• Chelsea Soldiers' Home Resident Dies Of Coronavirus
• Holyoke Soldiers' Home Deaths At 18 During ... - Patch