3 More Smith Village Residents Die, 18 Now Battling Coronavirus

CHICAGO — Three more skilled nursing care residents at the Smith Village Senior Living Community in the city's Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood have died as a result of contracting the new coronavirus, increasing the number of deaths reported at the retirement community near 113th and Western to five after two others died this past weekend. Also, seven more residents in their skilled nursing care wing have tested positive, with 32 of the tests coming back negative and one inconclusive as of Thursday at noon.

The seven who tested positive have been in isolation since they first showed symptoms, before the test results came back, Executive Director Marti Jatis said in a statement that's to appear on the Smith Village website on Thursday. The 32 who tested negative remain asymptomatic, according to the director.

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Family members of all residents who have received test results have been notified, a Smith Village spokeswoman told Patch. Family members of the residents who have died have also been notified.

"We join their families and friends, as well as those of the two residents who died this weekend, in mourning their loss," Jatis said, later noting that the transformation of one floor in their skilled nursing care wing has been completed to allow them to isolate residents who tested positive.

Of the 15 Smith Village employees who have been tested, the number who have tested positive remains at seven, while three tests have now come back negative. Five others are awaiting test results and "are recuperating in quarantine at home," Jatis said.

All Smith Village employees will also have the ability to get tested at an occupational health provider beginning Thursday, she added.

Related On Patch:

• 2 Smith Village Residents Die Of Coronavirus, 11 Test Positive
• Smith Village Resident Tests Positive For Coronavirus