April 12, 2020
Amid soaring positive tests, the state of Connecticut is in talks to develop nursing homes that will exclusively house COVID-19 patients. According to Governor Ned Lamont, the facilities, which he dubbed “recovery centers,” would receive $600 per-patient per-day, and would have a 500-bed capacity. There would be four centers in all, located at various points around the state.
However, employees of nursing homes continue to express concerns over safety. Many of these issues have been raised by members of SEIU 1199 New England, the states’ largest healthcare union. With severe shortages in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), members have reported reusing materials and wearing garbage bags instead of gowns.
The state is also investigating specific facilities with outbreaks, including the Golden Hill Rehabilitation Pavilion in Milford. The investigation is being carried out by the chief medical examiner’s office, which recently changed the diagnosis for one fatality from “respiratory failure” to “‘acute respiratory infection due to probable’ coronavirus infection,” according to chief medical examiner Dr. James Gill. This announcement has sparked the reevaluation of other recent deaths at the center. Over 40 residents have tested positive thus far.
Source: Collins, Dave and Haigh, Susan. 2020, April 11. COVID-only nursing homes planned, workers say they need gear. Associated Press.