Falmouth Coronavirus: Nursing Home Becoming Treament Facility

FALMOUTH, MA — A Falmouth nursing home will be emptied and transfered into a treatment facility for the new coronavirus, local health officials said.

Health Agent Scott McGann told the selectmen Monday that the Royal Falmouth Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 545 Main St. will house 80 beds for treating COVID-19.

"Hopefully we don't need it, but we may, and we'll have it there," McGann told the selectmen.

McGann said plans have begun to move nursing home residents to a new facility on Jones Road next to Morse Pond School. The new nursing home is newer, bigger and is the former spot where Genesis HealthCare operated before closing in 2014.

McGann said the move allows Royal to become a "step-down facility." He said it will be used for COVID-19 patients with less serious cases that do not require ventilators. Local health officials hope to have the facility ready by next week.

As of Monday afternoon, there were 15,202 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Massachusetts. Of those cases, 405 were in Barnstable County. Ten people in the county diagnosed with the virus have died.

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