Newton Assisted Living Home: 5 Coronavirus Deaths, 46 Infected

NEWTON, MA — Five residents at a senior living community in Newton have passed away after contracting the new coronavirus, and an additional 46 other residents and staff who have also tested positive there, according to officials at Benchmark Senior Living, which is the owner of the Falls at Cordingly Dam.

"On March 28, we were informed that one of our beloved residents was confirmed positive for COVID-19, which marked the first resident case at the Falls at Cordingly Dam," a Benchmark Senior Living spokesperson told Patch.

Following the testing of additional residents at the Falls at Cordingly Dam last week, as of April 7, the spokesperson said total of 36 residents and 10 associates have currently confirmed positive for COVID-19. Approximately 90 residents live at the Falls and about 100 people work at the facility, according to a spokesperson.

The spokesperson said staff notified the family of residents who tested positive or have had exposure to someone who has, and are committed to updating them.

The organization said it is working with both public and private sector entities to increase access to testing for residents and associates. Public health officials have said that more COVID-19 testing will inevitably reveal more positive cases, even among those who have not yet shown any symptoms.

"Only through community wide testing can we effectively isolate those cases, enhance our ability to contain the spread of the virus and ensure residents and associates receive appropriate care," said the spokesperson.

These cases highlight an increasing struggle among vulnerable populations who are older or have underlying health conditions and live in close proximity. Nursing homes, soldiers' homes and assisted living centers across the state, including most recently in Chelmsford, Holyoke and Chelsea have called in the National Guard to aid with testing and mitigation efforts.

In March, when the governor declared a state of emergency, he restricted visitors to nursing home facilities. The company that runs the Falls began restricting visitors and screening healthcare providers early on they said. The company also eliminated large group activities, including programming and dining.

According to a statement on its website, the company said they required associates who test positive, have had direct exposure to anyone who has tested positive or has symptoms to stay home on paid leave. They take the temperature of associate before shift, and have increased sanitization regime.

Last week the city announced the Newton first three residents had died because of the coronavirus.

The Falls at Cordingly Dam on Washington Street is an assisted living community and offers memory care for residents with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

Neither Fuller nor the spokesperson for the Falls said whether the entire community had been tested, but Fuller did say that more positive cases are likely to be identified in the days ahead.

Related:

• Veterans' Homes Coronavirus Deaths: 22 In Holyoke, 3 In Chelsea
• Curfew, Masks: Boston Mayor Announces New Coronavirus Rules
• Coronavirus In Newton: Number Of Cases Rise To 157
• Gov. Baker Declared A State Of Emergency. What That Means
• Coronavirus Related Deaths At Newton Assisted Living Facility

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).