SHELTON — Ten people, including eight residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities, have died in Shelton have died in connection to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to numbers released Saturday from The Naugatuck Valley Health District.
“It is with great sadness that the district is announcing the death of three more individuals who have passed away due to complications with COVID-19,” according to a post from the organization on Facebook at 4:45 p.m. Saturday.
The only fatalities thus far in the lower Naugatuck Valley have been in Shelton.
In terms of age range, the deaths include two men in their 90s, three men in their 80s, a man in his 70s, and four females in their 90s.
“Of the deceased, eight were residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities,” according to NVHD.
Fifty-seven nursing home/assisted living facility residents in Shelton have tested positive.
The COVID-19 related deaths reported by NVHD have been confirmed through laboratory testing. Suspected COVID-19 related deaths are not being reported by NVHD, according to the statement.
Here is the latest (Saturday, April 4) local COVID-19 data (Oxford is not in the NVHD’s jurisdiction. Click this link and then click “Test Data” for Oxford numbers):
ANSONIA: 35 people have tested positive as of April 4
(24 people as of April 1)
BEACON FALLS: 12
(9 on April 1)
DERBY: 20
(16 on April 1)
NAUGATUCK: 34
(23 on April 1)
OXFORD: See link above.
SEYMOUR: 24
(17 on April 1)
SHELTON: 98, with 10 deaths
(60 on April 1, with four deaths)
TOTAL: 223
The Naugatuck Valley Health District provides updates here and on Facebook.
Note: Valley Indy readers often pose questions about the local data on The Valley Indy Facebook wall. The Naugatuck Valley Health District does not provide details beyond the daily statements.
Statewide, 5,276 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported among Connecticut residents, according to the state Department of Health. There have been 165 deaths.
Also, 1,033 COVID-19 positive people are receiving care in hospitals.
On Saturday, the Valley’s health district released numbers about confirmed cases in local nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes. The locations were not provided.
Ansonia: 3
Beacon Falls: 0
Derby: 2
Naugatuck: 1
Oxford: N/A
Seymour: 3
Shelton: 57
According to statewide data, of 215 nursing homes in Connecticut, 55 (26 percent) have had at least one confirmed case of COVID-19.
“A total of 281 nursing home residents with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 have been identified of whom 90 (32 percent) were hospitalized and 33 (12 percent) have died,” according to information posted on the state’s coronavirus website.
Note: readers often ask about recovery data. Click here for a local story about the issue.
Worldwide, about 67,000 people have died and 252,000 people have recovered, according to an online tracker by Johns Hopkins University.
The Naugatuck Valley Health District also releases numbers regarding people who have tested negative for the COVID-19 virus:
Ansonia: 41
Beacon Falls: 14
Derby: 36
Naugatuck: 26
Seymour: 64
Shelton: 49
Here is the text of the NVHD statement posted to Facebook Saturday:
“It is with great sadness that the district is announcing the death of three more individuals who have passed away due to complications with COVID-19. “These announcements do not get any easier and my heart aches for the families who are losing their loved ones” said NVHD Director, Jessica Stelmaszek.
The Valley COVID-19 deaths include two (2) males in their 90s, three (3) males in their 80s, one (1) male in his 70s, and four (4) females their 90s. Of the deceased, eight were residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The COVID-19 related deaths reported by NVHD have been confirmed through laboratory testing. Suspected COVID-19 related deaths are not being reported by NVHD.
Additionally, moving forward, NVHD will provide a new table in the daily update. The table will reflect the number of COVID-19 positive residents who are currently residing in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, etc. This table does not include hospitalizations.
Laboratory confirmed cases are reported and counted for where the individual’s permanent residence is. For example, if a person is a resident of one town but is recovering in a facility in another town, the case will count for the residence town and not the facility town.
When an individual or worker tests positive for COVID-19 within an assisted living facility and/or nursing home, the investigation is led by the State Department of Public Health (DPH) and the State Facility Licensing and Investigation Section (FLIS). NVHD remains in communication with the facilities as well as our state agency partners during the investigation.
As a reminder, a hospital or healthcare provider may learn of a laboratory confirmed case and notify the local health department before the report is entered into the DPH online surveillance system and therefore the numbers reported by NVHD may differ from those reported in the Governor’s daily update.”
