Wallingford Nursing Home Reports 'Dramatic Spike' In COVID Cases

WALLINGFORD, CT — A Wallingford nursing home recently saw its worst outbreak of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began in March.

The Masonicare Health Center reported late last week that 24 residents tested positive for the coronavirus within a span of 24 hours, according to officials. The previous high was when the isolation unit was providing care to 11 people on May 18, officials said.

“While we are understandably concerned about the sudden and dramatic spike in cases, we are also pleased with how the team at MHC has responded,” officials wrote in a post on the Masonicare website. “They moved quickly to isolate the positive residents, performed contact tracing, tested roommates and others who may have been exposed, and obtained permission from DPH to close the facility to all visitors and vendors.

“This is going to be a challenging time for our colleagues at MHC, especially on the staffing front. Please keep them in your thoughts. This outbreak should be a warning to all of us. What’s scary about this virus is how quickly and easily it can spread. The constant reminders we put out about infection control, mandatory testing, and practicing good habits at work, at home, and out in the community are to protect you, your coworkers, and everyone we serve!”

Masonicare is closed to all in-person visitors and vendors, according to an update on Tuesday. Virtual visits are continuing.

Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in Wallingford, which reported 130 new cases within the last seven days, according to the state health department. Wallingford has had 916 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

The most common sources of the recent transmission of the virus have been private gatherings and familial spread, according to Wallingford Health Director Stephen Civitelli.

Prior to the recent outbreak at Masonicare, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases at nursing homes in Wallingford had dropped significantly since the beginning of the pandemic. There were only four cases in nursing homes from June through October and there have been 25 confirmed cases so far in November.

Most of the Masonicare residents who tested positive for COVID-19 were roommates at its memory care facility, according to officials. Residents are two other facilities also tested positive and are in quarantine. Masonicare has opened a second COVID-19 isolation unit.

As of Nov. 6, there were 11 Masonicare employees who tested positive for the virus and are quarantining, while 21 more were out due to exposure or because they are symptomatic.

In his latest update, Civitelli reported the following monthly breakdown of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wallingford:

• June - 24 Confirmed Cases (23 Community, 1 Nursing Home)
• July - 18 Confirmed Cases (18 Community)
• August – 24 Confirmed Cases – (24 Community)
• September – 53 Confirmed Cases (49 Community and 1 Nursing Home)
• October – 178 Confirmed Cases (176 Community, 2 Nursing Home)
• November (to date) – 77 Confirmed Cases (52 Community, 25 Nursing Home)
• Choate 7 confirmed cases as of Nov. 7.