15 Dead At Norwood Nursing Home, Some From Coronavirus: Report

NORWOOD, MA — More than a dozen people died in the last 12 days at the Charlwell House Health & Rehabilitation Center in Norwood and some tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Fifteen residents died at the facility, according to The Boston Globe. Chris Roberts, vice president of operations at Charlwell House, told The Globe seven of the dead tested positive for the coronavirus and due to underlying conditions, three had the virus listed as the cause of death. The rest had underlying conditions and have not been tested for the virus, according to The Globe.

The deaths came after three residents of the Jewish Healthcare Center senior care facility in Worcester died and 13 tested positive for the coronavirus. Out of about 700 senior living facilities in Massachusetts, 78 are experiencing a coronavirus outbreak, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said on Thursday.

Massachusetts Senior Care Association President Tara Gregorio called for changes to state testing criteria on Thursday — she argued current testing is inadequate in identifying residents who have been infected.

Gregorio cited a March 27 CDC report on nursing homes. Half of the residents who tested positive for the coronavirus were asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic on the day of testing.

The elderly, especially those with underlying health conditions, remain most vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic.

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