2 CT Nursing Homes Fined For Coronavirus Testing Failures

CONNECTICUT — Two nursing homes in Hartford and Hamden have been fined for violating the state's order to test staff weekly for the coronavirus.

Hamden Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Hamden and Avery Nursing Home in Hartford were each fined $1,140 for the oversight.

At Hamden, 17 employees who had worked at least one shift between July 29 and Aug. 3, and 22 who had worked between Aug. 4 and Aug. 10, had not been tested, according to state inspectors.

The management of Avery Nursing Home had not communicated the need for employees to be tested, according to the Department of Public Health, and consequently any were not.

"The State of Connecticut is serious about testing staff and residents at nursing homes regularly for COVID-19," Public Health Acting Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford said. "COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our nursing home population, many of whom have serious underlying health conditions. Testing for the virus is critical to helping us see where disease is happening so we can respond quickly in the case of any outbreak."