More Than 70 Coronavirus Deaths At Framingham Nursing Homes: DPH

FRAMINGHAM, MA — At least 74 residents at five Framingham senior care facilities have died of complications due to COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic, according to new figures released Wednesday by the state Department of Public Health.

Those nursing home deaths account for about 82 percent of Framingham's total 90 coronavirus deaths. In recent weeks, city officials have been highlighting when a death is related to a nursing home resident.

The figures released Wednesday offer the first look at how severely coronavirus has affected senior care homes across the state. Of the 6,547 coronavirus deaths in the state so far during the pandemic, just over 4,000 are connected to a nursing home.

In Framingham, St. Patrick's Manor has been the hardest hit with 25 deaths so far. Fifty-eight residents and 37 staff have tested positive — although 122 have recovered from the virus.

"The printed word cannot convey the sympathies and prayers we offer to the families and friends of the Residents who have passed away; please know that our community is grieving as well," St Patrick's administrator Maureen McDonough wrote in a statement Wednesday. "The sadness of this moment is no doubt compounded by the inability of families to share normal visits with their loved ones in the past several weeks. Our collective hearts break for every family member and resident who are missing the regular, in-person connections with their loved ones."

The state's figures are up-to-date as of Tuesday. The state also only released data on homes where more than two people had died.

Framingham has recorded 1,614 coronavirus cases so far during the pandemic, with 875 people who have survived. A total of 6,988 city residents have been tested so far, which means about 23 percent of tests are coming back positive. Health officials believe that the of positive tests should be 10 percent or lower before quarantine protocols can be lifted. About 17 percent of tests statewide are positive.