Nursing home deaths from COVID-19: St. Mary in Worcester, Beaumont Westboro have highest numbers in Worcester County

WORCESTER - More than 550 residents of more than 40 long-term care facilities in Worcester County have died of COVID-19, according to state data released Wednesday evening. Twelve of those facilities recorded more than 20 deaths from the coronavirus.

"Our hearts go out to the families, friends and caregivers who have lost a loved one during this terrible time," said Tara Gregorio, president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, in a statement.

She said the organization is working to implement standards for COVID-19 infection control and clinical care practices.

"Across the country nursing homes have borne the brunt of COVID-19, and Massachusetts is no exception," Gregorio continued. "Our round-the-clock mission is to protect our residents and staff and to gain control over this virus that has taken the lives of so many."

The data released by the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker records the number of deaths reported at nursing home and rest home facilities with two or more COVID-19 cases, and the number of deaths that the facilities themselves reported. The number of beds in each facility is listed. The exact number of COVID-19 cases is not given, but rather a broad estimate: fewer than 10, 10 to 30, or more than 30.

It is the first time that the state has released facility-specific details of deaths and comes after many of these facilities have emerged as hotspots in the pandemic and after months of pleas for more information from patients' families and from journalists.

"Massachusetts produces one of the most comprehensive public data reports in the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic," Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said in a statement Wednesday. "Today we continue our commitment to improved data and transparency by releasing new information that will add to the public's understanding of this public health crisis."

The data provides a snapshot of a care community that has been largely walled off from the public for months.

To try to prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in these often high-density, communal living spaces, nursing homes have outlawed visitors for months, moved residents, and established strict protocols for staff reporting to work.

Nevertheless, the virus has penetrated.

Massachusetts has reported 6,547 COVID-19 deaths as of Wednesday, and 4,041 of those, nearly 62%, were residents of long-term care facilities. There were 319 long-term care facilities reporting two or more COVID cases and/or deaths from COVID.

Some of the outbreaks were previously documented.

Worcester officials reported outbreaks at Jewish Healthcare Center and Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center last month. The owners of Life Care Center of Auburn have also reported more than two dozen deaths from the virus at that facility.

But the data reveals the extent to which the coronavirus has devastated these and other facilities.

According to the state data, Jewish Healthcare Center has had 22 deaths from the virus, while Holy Trinity has had 10 and Life Care Center has had 29.

Two nursing homes in the county - the 172-bed St. Mary Health Care Center in Worcester and the 120-bed Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Westboro - each reported 30 patients had died of COVID, the highest number of recorded COVID deaths in an individual facility in the county.

Other facilities reporting between 20 and 29 COVID deaths include: Beaumont at University Campus in Worcester, with 25 deaths; Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Northboro, 25 deaths; Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Northbridge, 29 deaths; Blair House of Worcester, 24 deaths; CareOne at Millbury, 28 deaths; Fitchburg HealthCare, 21 deaths; Notre Dame Long Term Care Center in Worcester, 28 deaths; Shrewsbury Nursing & Rehab Center, 22 deaths; and The Highlands in Fitchburg, 29 deaths.

Moreover, it is not just large nursing facilities like Life Care Center of Auburn, which has 154 beds, that are being affected.

Coleman House in Northboro has 22 beds and reported 16 coronavirus deaths.

On a brighter note, five Worcester County facilities reported coronavirus cases but no deaths. That includes Fitchburg Rehab and Nursing Center; Lanessa Extended Care in Webster; Lydia Taft House in Uxbridge; Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol; and Whittier Westboro Transitional Care Unit.

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