Chelsea Soldiers' Home Resident Dies Of Coronavirus

CHELSEA, MA — A coronavirus-related death has hit another of the state's Soldiers' Homes. A resident of the Chelsea Soldiers' Home has died of the coronavirus, and another resident and two employees have tested positive for the virus, according to reports.

The facility told the Boston Globe the cases are "being isolated, closely monitored, and tracked daily, and we are deeply saddened to report today that a resident of our community died of this infection." Officials are awaiting test results on a resident and staff member. Another resident and employee have tested negative.

The Chelsea Soldiers' Home 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 Tuesday there have been 13 deaths at the Holyoke home, six of which have been attributed to the coronavirus.

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 6,620 on Tuesday, including 89 deaths. Thirty-three people died over the last 24 hours, the biggest one-day jump the state has seen since the beginning of the outbreak.