1 Dead Following Norwich Nursing Home Coronavirus Outbreak

NORWICH, CT — One resident has died, and several more have been hospitalized, following a COVID-19 outbreak at Three Rivers Nursing Home in town.

The recent spike has also resulted in the infections of 13 residents and two staff members, according to the state Department of Public Health, which is investigating the outbreak.

"This unfortunate outbreak underscores the need for all of us to keep our guard up in the fight against COVID-19," said Acting DPH Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford. "COVID is still present in our communities and the virus can spread quickly if we do not remain vigilant about controlling the infection."

DPH is conducting an analysis to determine how the virus may have been introduced into Three Rivers and "investigating all aspects of this facility's infection control practices, including appropriate cohorting, PPE use by staff, and appropriate staff screening," according to Gifford.

As part of the investigation, DPH also is assessing the facility's level of compliance with the Gov. Ned Lamont's Executive Order 7AAA, which mandates weekly testing for all nursing home staff.

"The state's weekly staff testing mandate is an important tool for preventing and managing COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes," Gifford said in a news release.