A second resident of the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home has died after contracting the coronavirus, according to Gov. Charlie Baker.Baker confirmed the second COVID-19 death at the facility Wednesday during his daily update on the Massachusetts state of emergency.The governor said the Chelsea Soldiers' Home reported the first death on Monday and the second either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.“They followed all the rules and protocols that they are supposed to follow with respect to operating an elder care in a time of COVID-19 and reporting on critical incidents when they occur,” Baker said.The second COVID-19 death at Chelsea was later confirmed by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.Officials said four residents of the Chelsea facility were tested. The two residents who tested positive have died. One resident tested negative for the novel coronavirus, while the other's test results are still pending. In addition, two staff members have also tested positive for the coronavirus. One staff member tested negative for COVID-19 while two others are still awaiting test results.“Protecting the health of our veteran residents, and our staff, is the single most important part of the work of the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home. COVID-19 cases in the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home are being isolated, closely monitored, and tracked daily, and we are deeply saddened to report today that a resident of our community died of this infection,” the facility said in a statement. The Chelsea Soldiers Home is a state-funded housing and health care complex for veterans.Meanwhile, 15 people at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home in Holyoke have died, and at least six of those deaths have been confirmed to be from COVID-19.Of the remaining nine deaths, six COVID-19 tests are pending, two returned negative and one person's testing status was unknown.Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse said the first deaths occurred last Wednesday, but officials at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home failed to disclose the deaths until Sunday.Gov. Charlie Baker has hired Attorney Mark W. Pearlstein to conduct an independent investigation into the deaths at the Holyoke facility. The investigation will focus both on the events inside the facility that led to the tragic deaths of veterans in the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and on management and organizational oversight of the COVID-19 response in the home, Baker said.PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+Cg==
CHELSEA, Mass. — A second resident of the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home has died after contracting the coronavirus, according to Gov. Charlie Baker.
Baker confirmed the second COVID-19 death at the facility Wednesday during his daily update on the Massachusetts state of emergency.
The governor said the Chelsea Soldiers' Home reported the first death on Monday and the second either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
“They followed all the rules and protocols that they are supposed to follow with respect to operating an elder care in a time of COVID-19 and reporting on critical incidents when they occur,” Baker said.
The second COVID-19 death at Chelsea was later confirmed by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Officials said four residents of the Chelsea facility were tested. The two residents who tested positive have died. One resident tested negative for the novel coronavirus, while the other's test results are still pending.
In addition, two staff members have also tested positive for the coronavirus. One staff member tested negative for COVID-19 while two others are still awaiting test results.
“Protecting the health of our veteran residents, and our staff, is the single most important part of the work of the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home. COVID-19 cases in the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home are being isolated, closely monitored, and tracked daily, and we are deeply saddened to report today that a resident of our community died of this infection,” the facility said in a statement.
The Chelsea Soldiers Home is a state-funded housing and health care complex for veterans.
Meanwhile, 15 people at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home in Holyoke have died, and at least six of those deaths have been confirmed to be from COVID-19.
Of the remaining nine deaths, six COVID-19 tests are pending, two returned negative and one person's testing status was unknown.
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse said the first deaths occurred last Wednesday, but officials at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home failed to disclose the deaths until Sunday.
Gov. Charlie Baker has hired Attorney Mark W. Pearlstein to conduct an independent investigation into the deaths at the Holyoke facility.
The investigation will focus both on the events inside the facility that led to the tragic deaths of veterans in the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and on management and organizational oversight of the COVID-19 response in the home, Baker said.