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04/10/2020 12:00 AMAs of April 9, Chester had two deaths associated with new coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community. The town’s first fatality was reported on April 8.
“I am sorry to report that the Chester community has lost our first resident from complications related to coronavirus, a woman in her 90s. With deep sadness, I wish peace and love on her family and loved ones and send condolences on behalf of our town,” Chester First Selectman Lauren Gister wrote in an April 8 town-wide email.
At the April 8 Board of Selectman meeting, Gister provided an update on COVID-19 in the community. She reported the current number of confirmed cases in Chester, noting that with testing being done at benchmarks set by personal physicians, the number could be more.
“I am absolutely positive that there are cases in the tri-town area that will never be diagnosed, unless there is widespread antibody testing later,” she said.
The majority of the positive cases are residents of Aaron Manor, Gister reported. The presence of COVID-19 at Aaron Manor, the rehabilitation and nursing center at 3 South Wig Hill Road, is being handled by the state Department of Public Health (DPH).
“For each affected patient, family members have been notified and continue to be updated. We’ve also reported each case to the local health department, the state departments of Public Health and Epidemiology,” said Andrea Obston, a representative for the facility in an April 9 email correspondence with the Courier.
The problem is not unique to Aaron Manor. A report from the DPH detailing data from the Connecticut Hospital Association and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner illustrates the prevalence of COVID-19 in the state’s nursing homes.
As of April 9, 43 percent of the state’s 215 nursing homes have had at least one confirmed case of COVID-19. Of the 849 nursing home residents with a confirmed COVID-19 laboratory test, 28 percent were hospitalized, and 14 percent have died.
In Chester, “the facility is taking all recommended measures to contain and prevent the spread of the virus within the facility. At this time, we have adequate staff and supplies of personal protective equipment to treat affected residents in place,” said Obston.
On April 8, Governor Ned Lamont announced a medical surge plan to provide COVID-19 recovery centers in nursing homes for patients discharged from hospitals, but still afflicted with the virus. The plan is being implemented in partnership with Connecticut’s long-term care facilities.
“Residents of long-term care facilities represent our most vulnerable population during this pandemic, as the virus can spread quickly within the enclosed environment such as a nursing home,” Public Health Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell said in Governor Lamont’s written statement on April 8.
Aaron Manor has been following guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the DPH to safeguard the health of its residents and staff once an individual is diagnosed with COVID-19.
Obston says that these measures include deep cleaning and quarantining any staff who had direct contact with the patient for 14 days.
The facility is also screening all staff members for any symptoms before they begin their shift and “instructing any member of our care team who feels ill to stay home,” says Obston.
Aaron Manor is adhering to statewide DPH restrictions issued on March 9, asking the facility to limit visitors. As of DPH’s March 25 directives, Aaron Manor will only admit new residents upon confirmation of a negative COVID-19 test.
The fatalities in Chester are 2 of 14 deaths related to COVID-19 in Middlesex County, as of April 10.