First COVID-19 Related Death in Belmont
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 2, 2020
First COVID-19 Related Death in Belmont
Belmont, MA: The Belmont Health Department has been informed of the town’s first death related to COVID-19.
The deceased patient was a resident at a long-term care facility in Belmont. This patient developed symptoms consistent with COVID-19 while they were at the long-term care facility, and was transported to a local hospital for more advanced care where they died.
Staff from the long-term care facility are working with Belmont town departments (Belmont Emergency Management Agency [BEMA], Health, Fire EMS) and state agencies (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency [MEMA], Massachusetts Department of Public Health [MDPH], and Massachusetts Bureau of Health Care Safety & Quality) to continue to identify all contacts and to proactively implement infection control measures to prevent spread.
Due to the infectious nature of COVID-19, the long-term care facility is dedicating a wing of the facility to isolate patients suspected to be positive with the virus. The facility is also designating staff that will only work with patients exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.
To date the long-term care facility has had fourteen positive COVID-19 patients (including the deceased).
To identify any additional patients positive for COVID-19, BEMA has requested assistance from MEMA to request that the Nursing and Rest Home testing program operated by the National Guard and MDPH conduct patient testing of all residents at the long-term care facility.
There are currently 32 MDPH confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Belmont as of 4/2/20.
Local resources, information, and updates are posted on the Town’s website by following the link below: https://www.belmont-ma.gov/home/urgent-alerts/covid-19-information-for-the-town-of-belmont-find-all-updates-here .