Coronavirus: Orchard View Staff Member Among Nursing Home Deaths

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI —Nancy MacDonald, 62, is the first Orchard View Manor staff member of the 41 new coronavirus-related deaths tied to the East Providence nursing home.

The former Riverside teacher and cheerleading coach, who most recently worked as a receptionist at Orchard View, was among the deaths the state announced on Tuesday.

Orchard View is one of the state's nursing homes hardest hit during the coronavirus pandemic. The East Providence Mayor's Office said that, as of Tuesday, there were 99 current cases of coronavirus tied to the nursing home with 84 positive tests. Forty residents have died and eight were hospitalized as of Tuesday.

The staff has also been hard hit during the surge in the state's coronavirus cases with 67 positive cases and three hospitalizations, along with MacDonald's death.

The other three care facilities in the city have been less affected. Evergreen House Health Center reported 11 positive resident cases and eight positive staff cases. Eastgate Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center reported seven positive resident cases, one resident hospitalized and two positive staff cases. Waterview View Rehabilitation and Health Center reported one positive resident case.

A GoFundMe has been started in MacDonald's name to help pay for funeral, burial and memorial services. In two days, the fund has raised $4,950 of its $6,500 goal as of early Wednesday afternoon.

As of Wednesday, the state Department of Health reported 323 confirmed cases of coronavirus, which is the sixth-highest of any community in the state.

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