A horrific discovery in the US.
The police found the bodies in a small morgue designed to hold four people, at the Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center in Andover, New Jersey after being tipped off that a body was being stored in the shed at the care home, The New York Times reports.
“They were just overwhelmed by the amount of people who were expiring,” police chief Eric C. Danielson said.
68 deaths have now been linked to the skilled nursing home, which is one of the largest in the state with 700 beds, including two nurses. Officials say 26 had tested positive for COVID-19 – the cause of death for the others is still unknown.
In total, the home has 76 residents and 41 staff who have been diagnosed with the virus, including an administrator.
Staff and families have now requested Government intervention at the home – which recently received a one-star rating of “much below average” from Medicare for staffing levels, inspections and patient care.
They are not alone in their concern however – 90% of New Jersey’s 375 care homes now have at least one case of COVID-19.
As we have covered, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have not been releasing a count and many states have not disclosed details of outbreaks in nursing homes.
The Associated Press has been keeping its own tally of nursing home COVID-19 deaths based on media reports and state health departments which puts the toll at over 4,800.
