Gov. Murphy: Coronavirus, 'Makeshift Morgue' At NJ Nursing Home
ANDOVER, NJ — Seventeen bodies were removed from the Andover Subacute & Rehab Center Two long-term care facility on Monday after authorities responded to an anonymous tip that they were piled up at a “makeshift morgue,” according to officials. Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday that he is “outraged” by the reports, saying the idea that the deceased were treated this way “is completely unacceptable.”
Murphy said he was “heartbroken” over the tragic news and praying for the recovery of the residents and employees devastated by COVID-19. He also said the Office of Attorney General and the state Department of Health were looking into the matter and may take action.
The facility has recorded dozens of positive coronavirus cases, but the cause of death for the deceased has not been confirmed.
“I am also outraged that bodies of the dead were allowed to pile up at a makeshift morgue at the facility. New Jerseyans living in our long-term care facilities deserve to be cared for with respect, compassion and dignity,” Murphy said. “We can and must do better.”
Police on Monday removed the 17 bodies from a small morgue at Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center intended to hold no more than four people, officials said.
“They were just overwhelmed by the amount of people who were expiring,” Andover Police Chief Eric C. Danielson told the New York Times.
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According to officials, in the past three months, 68 deaths have been linked to Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center I and II, including those of two nurses. Records show 26 people had tested positive for the virus at the facilities.
Judy Persichilli, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, shared a timeline Thursday as part of her segment in Murphy’s daily coronavirus briefing.
“We’re not pleased with what is going on at the Andover facility,” Persichilli said.
Persichilli said that on Saturday, her office was notified that facility needed body bags for deceased residents and that 28 bodies were being housed in the facility.
“We immediately notified the local health department and local health officer at 2 a.m. on Sunday and they surveyed the facility (and determined) that there was appropriate staffing and personal protection equipment, and they also observed five bodies on-site and that three bodies had been released earlier in the day,” she said.
Persichilli said the Department of Health required it to report daily on the conditions there and that the facility was told to institute its backup plan for the storage of deceased at the local hospital.
Persichilli said that, on Tuesday, the Department of Health received another complaint about more bodies being stored.
Local officials investigated and found it was short on staffing and notified the owner about their concerns.
Danielson told NJ.com that 13 of the bodies were transported to a refrigerated truck at Newton Medical Center, with four remaining behind because arrangements had been made with funeral parlors.
“Since then, the owner has procured a refrigerated truck on-site, in case of any further issues,” Danielson said in the report.
A subacute rehab is generally for complete inpatient care for someone suffering from an illness or injury.
Persichilli said that, as of Thursday morning, the owner of the facility reported that the current staffing is “solid” with 11 nurses. The normal number is 12.
Murphy said he asked Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal to look into the matter, conduct a review of all long-term care facilities where there is a disproportionate number deaths, and take any action needed.
“Like the governor and so many other New Jerseyans, I am deeply troubled by the high number of deaths at certain nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in the state, especially those with below-average track records for health inspections, staffing and quality of care,” Grewal said. “I can confirm that the attorney general’s office is now investigating the matter, and we will follow the facts wherever they go.”
Congressman Josh Gottheimer said Thursday that more than one-fouth of the current coronavirus caseload is in North Jersey, and he called for assistance asking for more federal funding for hospitals and nursing homes.
“Including the one in Andover, which has been hit so hard. They’ve suffered a massive staffing and PPE crisis in all this,” he said.
The Sparta-based group Sparta Helps Healthcare Heroes said it has been and will be continuing to donate personal protective equipment directly to the nurses and staff at several area nursing homes. Recently, the group expanded its fundraising efforts.
New Jersey Department of Health spokesperson Dawn Thomas said that the department continues to work with long-term care facilities to deliver infection control education to facilities with outbreaks, and is working to get them the supplies they need.
“The Department of Health is working on a statewide plan to assist nursing homes experiencing large outbreaks and shortages of staff and equipment. We are surveying their status including current census, available beds, ability to cohort staff and patients, physical layout, supplies, staffing and other resources they might need. We are dividing the state into three regions and will look at movement of patients and resources on a regional [basis],” Thomas said. “We are looking at the health care professionals who have volunteered to serve to see if we can send additional staff to nursing homes. Our goal is to keep those who haven’t been exposed safe and to ensure those exposed or tested positive get the care they need and have the space, staff and supplies to support care of patients with COVID-19.”
Thomas noted that the situation is unprecedented with a pandemic that has not been seen in the United States since 1918.
“Situations like this show pretty clearly the vulnerability of our systems of care, and this is one of them,” Thomas said. “When this pandemic subsides, the Department of Health will be doing a full statewide evaluation of services, supply and response.”
Murphy said the Department of Health will lead a team that has been deployed to assist the center and staff and residents.
“We know there are bad actors in the industry across the country, but New Jersey can lead in how we respond,” he said.
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