Paramus Coronavirus: Doctors, Experts Sent To Veterans Home

PARAMUS, NJ — Doctors and infectious disease experts from hospitals across North Jersey will begin consulting with the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home’s medical team following a coronavirus outbreak at the veterans home.

New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran Affairs data shows that of the 224 total residents at the Paramus veterans home, there have been 189 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 60 resident deaths. 14 residents are currently hospitalized as of 2:35 p.m. today.

Of the 362 staff members in Paramus, there have been 69 confirmed cases and one death.

According to a news release from the office of Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Gottheimer, along with Congressman Bill Pascrell and New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Brigadier General Jemal Beale pushed for this collaboration in hopes that it would lead to greater transparency in regards to the outbreak, and help protect the health of the staff and residents.

“The health crisis taking place at this facility has been devastating, heartbreaking, and utterly unacceptable. The loss of life here is an unspeakable tragedy for the North Jersey community,” said Gottheimer in a statement. “This assistance and guidance from some of the top coronavirus experts and doctors in the country will be critical to fight this outbreak, help limit further loss of life, and protect these veterans and the facility’s staff,”

The team of experts comes from hospitals including Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health, Holy Name Medical Center and Valley Hospital. They will meet with the veterans home staff to review medical protocols, collaborate on best practices and help prioritize residents with pressing medical needs, according to the release.

In addition to this new team of experts, earlier this month the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs sent 90 nurses to the veterans home, and, according to the release, there are also now 40 New Jersey National Guard medics assisting at the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home.

Gottheimer and Pascrell have requested the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the VA Inspector open a federal investigation into the outbreak.

“We need to figure out what the hell went wrong in Paramus,” said Congressman Pascrell, in a statement.

Read more: NJ Veterans Home Official Quits