NORTH ATTLEBORO - After reporting no deaths for the first two months of the coronavirus pandemic, North Attleboro has now lost 14 residents – eight at the Madonna Manor nursing home at 85 North Washington Street.
Three of the deaths occurred in early April, but not reported until this week.
The home, operated by the Catholic Diocese of Fall River, issued a statement early this week that read in part, “As of April 27, 2020, we had between 30 and 40 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at our facility. Testing is ongoing and the number of cases changes frequently. We have reached out to the National Guard and now await its assistance in testing all residents in response to the government’s recent directive on widespread testing in nursing facilities. Sadly, we have lost eight residents from COVID-19 related illnesses; these residents were living with underlying health conditions that hindered their ability to overcome the virus. Most of these deaths have occurred over the past weekend. We have extended our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones. We share in their loss and grief. As residents under our care in some cases for an extended time, those who have died were part of our Madonna Manor family.”
The statement concludes, “As we continue to work to provide the most optimal care through this unprecedented health crisis, we – the administrators and staff – of Madonna Manor ask for the continued support and prayers of our community.”
North TV spoke with North Attleboro Town Manager Michael Borg and Public Health Nurse Anne Marie Fleming on Thursday.
"It was really a hard thing when those numbers came out," Fleming said.
Fleming talks with the staff at Madonna Manor and other senior facilities daily, "They put a lot of measures into place, protective measures, but they (the residents) are some of our most vulnerable people."
Borg announced the deaths when addressing the town council during a virtual meeting on Monday, "It was definitely a sad event for the town to lose those members of our community."
Click below to see the entire North TV interview with Fleming and Borg:
