National Guard tests dozens of residents at nursing home in Littleton

LITTLETON — The National Guard is stepping in at least three facilities including the Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley.

On Friday, the National Guard tested 85 residents at this nursing home in Littleton.

First responders transported nine residents and eight staff who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last week.

“I’m furious because I love these residents and their families," said Crystal Cunneen, a certified nursing assistant in Littleton.

While town officials say five people died here, management told Boston 25 that only two are confirmed at this time in connection with coronavirus.

This CNA fears she will be fired not just for speaking to media but also because she tried to call in sick until she can get a test.

“They literally hung up on her and said they don’t have time for this. Why are they only testing the residents and not the staff… it’s just going to spread the disease even further,” said Crystal’s boyfriend.

But there was no National Guard reported at the Charlwell House nursing home in Norwood where 15 residents have died, eight of which tested positive for COVID-19.

“We have created units for individuals who have tested positive, units for people who have tested negative so that we can ensure that people are appropriately isolated," said Marylou Sudders, Secretary of Health and Human Services.”

But we did see the National Guard helping with several cases at the Southeast Rehabilitation Center in Easton, and at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, where 21 veterans have recently died.

"We’ve had 21 resident deaths, 15 were positive tests, 2 negative, 1 unknown and 3 pending," Sudders said.

Back in Littleton, the facility told Boston 25 it is following all CDC guidelines, while town officials say it failed to comply with the Littleton Board of Health protocol when their first staff member and patient tested positive for COVID-19.

“They should’ve told us, they should’ve take the proper precautions, but they hid it from us. I even asked, how many but they never really had an answer,” Crystal said.

Management here told Boston 25 that it will take 2-3 days before they get their results.

When asked when the staff will be tested, management said it’s unclear if and when that will happen.

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