Three more Shelton residents have died due to COVID-19 complications, the Naugatuck Valley Health District reported Thursday.
In total, seven Shelton residents have died since the virus first appeared in Connecticut. Five of those deaths were residents of Shelton nursing homes.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families who have lost their loved ones during these difficult times,” Jessica Stelmaszek, the NVHD’s health director, said in a prepared statement.
From Stelmaszek’s statement:
“The Valley COVID-19 deaths include one male in his 90s, three males in their 80s, one male in his 70s, and two females their 90s. Of the deceased, five passed away in nursing homes. 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.”
Local nursing homes with residents who have tested positive include:
In Naugatuck: Glendale Center
In Seymour: Shady Knoll Health Center
In Shelton:
Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes
Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation
Gardner Heights Health Care Center
“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,” Stelmaszek said.
Info From The State
The state released information Thursday night saying 3,824 in Connecticut have tested positive for COVID-19. About 18,300 tests have been conducted.
About 827 people have been hospitalized (click here for recovery info) and 112 people have died.
Institutional Information about what’s happening inside Connecticut’s nursing homes is not easy to obtain. Owners have not returned inquiries from The Valley Indy.
The CT Mirror published a story highlighting concerns from family members and union leaders. Click this link to read the story.
The state reported Thursday night that 42 of the 216 nursing homes — or 19 percent — in Connecticut have residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. “A total of 150 nursing home residents with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 have been identified of whom 64 (43%) were hospitalized and 15 (10%) have died,” according to the state.
Renee D. Coleman-Mitchell is the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. At a press conference Thursday, reporters asked her about the situation in nursing homes.
“It’s extremely alarming for us because this is the most vulnerable population,” Coleman-Mitchell said.
Coleman-Mitchell said the Department of Health is trying to separate positive COVID-19 nursing home residents from the other residents within the facilities where they live.
If that cannot be done — for example, the facility may be too small — the state is looking at spaces to relocate nursing home residents who have tested positive, the commissioner said.
“As the commissioner of public health, my biggest concern is to address the needs of this most vulnerable population,” Coleman-Mitchell said.
The latest data on lower Naugatuck Valley positive COVID-19 cases (April 2, 6 p.m.):
Ansonia: 31
Beacon Falls: 10
Derby: 18
Naugatuck: 26
Oxford: Available here
Seymour: 20
Shelton: 66, with seven deaths
Total: 171 positives
Total negative lab reports received: 125
Also from the NVHD statement:
“Please note that the number of negative laboratory reports reported … represent what the health district has received to-date. This number is not an exact representation of the total number of the total negative laboratory reports because they are not reported to the health district in real-time.
The health district has received many requests to report “recovery” statistics. Currently, there is no reliable recovery data available. Health district staff will continue to work with patients to determine when an individual meets the CDC’s criteria to come out of self-isolation.”
Click here for worldwide recovery data (which does not include anything from the region).
This story will be updated.
