Coronavirus Latest: Second Resident Dies At Pleasant View Nursing Home Amid Outbreak; National Guard To Deploy Medical Unit
MT. AIRY, Md. (WJZ) -- Two coronavirus-related deaths have now been reported at a Carroll County nursing home, officials said Monday evening.
The death of the second victim, a man over the age of 80 with underlying health conditions, was confirmed Monday. One resident of the nursing facility died after being diagnosed Saturday, officials said. The resident was a man in his 90s with underlying medical conditions.
There are now 77 residents of the nursing home, Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy, who have tested positive for COVID-19. Twenty-seven members of the staff are also experiencing symptoms.
Eighteen of the facility's 95 residents tested negative. Sixteen of the patients have been hospitalized.
"I don't think it's extremely unusual to see something like this when it's unknown to spread in a nursing home this way," Carroll County health officer Ed Singer said.
The patients who have been infected are receiving serious attention due to their vulnerability.
On Saturday officials reported 66 patients had tested positive for coronavirus.
"If someone's in a nursing home, they're there with underlying medical conditions, so we have 66 people with underlying medical conditions who are infected with this virus," Singer said.
Chopper 13 was over the nursing home where there was an emergency response Monday evening. A number of emergency responders including the Maryland National Guard responded. It is unclear whether it was specifically for the second resident's death.
Pleasant View Nursing Home said the Carroll County Health Department has provided them with additional personal protective equipment for staff protection and is providing more medical staff beginning Tuesday.
The Carroll Hospital also provided additional staffing and assets to support the facility, according to Pleasant View Nursing Home.
The Maryland National Guard is deploying a medical unit to assess all residents' conditions and determine which need a higher level of care.
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The Carroll County Health Department released the following statement Saturday:
"Pleasant View Nursing Home continues to cooperate with and follow the guidance of the Maryland Department of Health and the Carroll County Health Department. We're maintaining constant communication and will continue to provide resources and support to the patients, their families and facility staff during this difficult time."
There are over 1,400 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Maryland, and 15 deaths reported. Gov. Hogan issued a "stay-at-home" executive order directing all people to stay home unless there is an "essential" reason to do so including essential work and certain activities like grocery shopping.
The governor also hinted on Monday that there are other facilities the state is monitoring.
"There are smaller outbreaks in a number of places across the state that are of concern that are in senior centers or nursing homes," he said.
Another facility that had a positive case reported was Oak Crest Senior Living in Parkville. A letter dated Sunday confirmed the resident was in the facility's continuing care neighborhood and those who may have come in contact with that person should self-quarantine for 14 days.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
