Department of Public Health now lists coronavirus cases at long-term care facilities

FALL RIVER – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the first time on Monday listed the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities on its web site.

Nursing homes have been hard hit in some areas with elderly residents being at a higher risk for contracting the virus and dying from it than most younger people.

Of the 1,809 fatalities from COVID-19 in the state of Massachusetts, the average age of death was 81.

Risk of death due to the novel coronavirus went up with age accounting for 1,144 deaths in those over age 80, and 399 deaths of those aged 70 to 79.

It also took the lives of 182 people between 60 and 69. It accounted for 63 deaths of people aged 50 to 59, and 13 between ages 40 to 49.

Younger people accounted for less deaths with seven deaths of those ages 30 to 39, one death between 20 and 29 and no deaths of those under age 19.

The state listed the names of nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and assisted living residences with two or more known positive cases of novel coronavirus. It did not list deaths.

Numbers were listed as under 10 cases, between 10 and 30, and more than 30. The state did not disclose exact numbers.

There were no nursing homes in the cities of Fall River, New Bedford, or Taunton with two or more cases, but there were several in Brockton and Attleboro with a high number of cases.

The state DPH until now has not reported on cases in long-term care facilities, leaving it up to individual home administrators as to whether they want to disclose numbers to the media.

The Herald News two weeks ago filed an open records request with the state to learn this information.

Besides confirmed cases, the DPH on Monday also reported the numbers of those tested in long-term care facilities.

It said that the National Guard performed 9,492 tests in 200 facilities to date. Some 68 tests were scheduled in six long-term care facilities for today. The names of those sites were not reported.

Long-term care facilities in the area with two or more cases are as follows:

Alden Court Nursing and Rehab, Fairhaven less than 10

Attleboro Health Care, Attleboro 10 to 30

Baypointe Rehab Center, Brockton 10 to 30

Bostonian Nursing and Rehab, Dorchester less than 10

Brandon Woods, Dartmouth less than 10

Champion Rehab and Health, Brockton 10 to 30

Copley at Stoughton, Stoughton less than 10

Garden Place Healthcare, Attleboro 10 to 30

Life Care Center, Plymouth less than 10

Madonna Manor, N. Attleboro 10 to 30

Newfield House Convalescence, Plymouth less than 10

Pleasant Street Rest Home, Attleboro 10 to 30

Royal Cape Cod Nursing, Buzzards Bay more than 30

Southeast Rehab, Easton more than 30

St. Joseph’s Manor, Brockton more than 30

The Guardian Center, Brockton more than 30

Tremont Rehab, Wareham less than 10

Email Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com