HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Over 70 veterans at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke have passed away, according to the Office of Health and Human Services on Friday.
According to HHS, five additional veteran resident deaths has brought the death toll at the veteran’s home to 73 and the number of positive Covid-19 cases to 62. Nine tested negative for the virus, one test result is pending and one cause of death remains unknown.
All five residents who died on Friday tested positive for Covid-19, two were being treated at the hospital. On Thursday, a total of 68 veterans had died.
The numbers below are the latest from the state:
- 85 veteran residents have tested positive
- 60 veteran residents have tested negative
- 8 veteran residents have pending tests
The number of employees who have tested positive for the virus remains at 81. Read more about the Soldiers’ Home outbreak below.
The Soldiers Home has 247 beds providing long term nursing care facility within 24-hours licensed nursing staff for veteran residents. It also has a 30-room domiciliary for veterans who need minimum medical services through its outpatient department.
The 22News I-Team filed Freedom of Information Act requests to the Department of Public Health, Veteran Services, and to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. All three agencies denied our requests, citing active investigations.
Both the state and federal government are investigating possible wrong-doing at the Soldiers’ Home, specifically whether there was a cover up.
The Superintendent of Soldiers’ Home Bennett Walsh has said he handled the reporting of the veterans death properly.
