Golden Hill Rehab Pavilion Responds To Coronavirus Outbreak

MILFORD, CT — The Golden Hill Rehabilitation Pavilion in Milford has received significant attention since Friday when News 12 CT first reported that more than 40 patients at the nursing home tested positive for the new coronavirus.

And then Fox 61 reported this week that the state Department of Public Health is investigating the situation at Golden Hill.

And now comes this report from the Hartford Courant's Dave Altimari who said the state's Medical Examiner changed the death certificate of a 92-year-old man to say he died likely as a result of the virus and not respiratory failure which was originally listed.

Altimari reports that the medical examiner is reviewing whether there were any other deaths at the facility that may need to be reclassified.

News 12 reported on Tuesday that a nurse at the facility who tested positive for the virus is still working. Golden Hill officials told News 12 CT that "No sick employees are working at the facility"and they are adamant that all CDC protocols have been followed including staff wearing the appropriate protective personal equipment.

In an emailed statement to Milford Patch, Golden Hill officials said, "Golden Hill Rehab Pavilion was the first in the State to restrict visitation and to take staff temperatures prior to entering the facility. We value our staff and have been providing them with full personal protection equipment including new 3mN95 masks daily. We also have maintained all State regulated staffing levels. We have rewarded our hard-working staff by increasing wages almost 100%.

"Golden Hill has been more proactive than any other nursing home by testing all residents throughout this ordeal, although we are one of the 80 facilities with positive cases as of today, our number of positive cases do not represent the number of asymptomatic people. Our Medical Director, Dr. Anuruddha Walaliyadda, MD, has been tremendous in supporting us on the frontlines of this epidemic.

"We ask that the media and the community join us in a battle to be designated as a Covid-19 facility, which will allow us to access additional support and resources. The facility has been told by the State that funding is currently unavailable to us. Being a facility that represents a large minority population we feel funding should not be withheld."

>>>Read the full Hartford Courant story here.

>>>Read the full News 12 CT story here.