HOLYOKE — Five more veteran residents have died from COVID-19 at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke as medical professionals continue to deal with a coronavirus outbreak at the facility that began last month, according to state health officials.
As of Friday, 73 veteran residents have died since late March, 62 of whom tested positive for COVID-19. Another 85 veteran residents and 81 employees also have tested positive, according to the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services (HHS). An additional 60 veteran residents have tested negative and eight others have pending tests.
State health officials said a clinical command team assisted by the Massachusetts National Guard continues to respond to the outbreak while bringing on additional management staff for nursing, facilities, operations and administration to complement the existing staff at the Soldiers’ Home.
On Wednesday, Hasbro and Cartamundi donated 250 face shields and staff are continuing to receive support on the appropriate use of personal protective equipment, which is being monitored.
“Staff have all been trained but require some additional coaching on the units to ensure they are compliant with proper use,” HHS wrote in a statement. “Baystate Medical System has helped us stand up PPE coaches in the units who will be starting onsite next week. These coaches will be on the units across all shifts observing staff PPE usage and providing real-time coaching and friendly correction on PPE donning and doffing.”
Baystate Medical Practice Management also is providing consulting support to assist in administrative procedures, while additional social work staff have been brought in to support staff, according to the state agency. National Guard chaplains are offering a short service for staff to support their emotional well-being.
The COVID-19 outbreak at the Soldiers’ Home is currently the subject of multiple investigations, including probes launched by the governor, state attorney general and federal prosecutors. The state Inspector General’s Office also began an investigation into the facility in January, though state officials have declined to say what that investigation is about.
Gov. Charlie Baker placed Soldiers’ Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh on paid leave on March 30 and replaced him with Val Liptak, the CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital. The Soldiers’ Home is a state-funded, fully accredited health care facility that offers veterans health care, hospice care, including full-time residential accommodations, an on-site dental clinic, a veterans assistance center and a multiservice outpatient department.