Daniel Arbeeny says he took his 89-year-old father out of Cobble Hill Health Center due to concerns over COVID-19. On Friday, new state data revealed the nursing home reported 55 presumed coronavirus-elated deaths, making it the highest known number in the city.
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“They’re not getting the support the big hospitals get, which is a shame because we have have our most vulnerable here as well," he said.
The more than 300 bed facility has been in the neighborhood for decades. Its website lists some of the measures taken to prevent the spread, including banning most visitors, screening staff before entering, and requiring everyone to wear a face mask.
“It was inevitable, you know? It’s like hitting one nursing home after another, so it was just a matter of time," said Walter Huerta.
But the nursing home claims the data is based on subjective criteria. In a statement, officials said that while they have seen an increase in deaths, anything they’ve reported has been based on the possibility of COVID-19 being a factor, which is difficult to determine with limited tests.
Arbeeny hopes some good can come of the harrowing report. He’s involved in an effort to collect masks and face shields to donate to the nursing home.
“When you see a number of 55, your heart breaks and then you get angry, instead of saying well what can we do? Well, there’s a lot we can do," he said.
The data in the report is presumably incomplete. It’s based only on the information the state has been given so far and is expected to be updated.