Three elderly residents of Laurel Brook Rehabilitation & Healthcare have died after being hospitalized with coronavirus, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The long-term care facility on Church Road also revealed Wednesday it has an additional five positive cases, bringing the facility’s caseload to 10, including the three deaths.
“It is with heavy hearts that we confirm three ... patients, who had been receiving treatment at a regional hospital, have died,” Laurel Brook Medical Director Dr. Andrew Blank said in a statement Wednesday. “We continue to monitor the status of the two other patients.”
Of the seven confirmed positive cases still living, two are residents and five are employees, according to Laurel Brook, which provides services ranging from post-surgery rehab to long-term care. It is owned by Brick, New Jersey-based Marquis Health Services.
The Laurel Brook COVID-19 deaths — the first in Burlington County — are an 87-year-old woman, an 80-year-old man and an 85-year-old man, according to county health officials.
On Monday, Laurel Brook said it had three residents and two employees test positive for coronavirus.
Laurel Brook reiterated Wednesday that it is working closely with the state health department and following guidance from the CDC to help contain further spread of the disease.
Dr. Herb Conaway, Burlington County Health Department director, said Wednesday he had spoken with administrators at Laurel Brook and was satisfied the long-term care facility was taking appropriate action.
The deaths at the 220-bed facility highlight how vulnerable people in nursing homes are to coronavirus, Conaway said.
“It’s heightened by advanced age, but this vulnerability extends to all communal settings,” such as college dormitories or military barracks, Conaway said.
He said there have been no discussions about the county stepping in to take action or provide aid at Laurel Brook, which average about 169 residents a day, according to Medicare.
Nursing homes in the state, and nationwide, have struggled to contain coronavirus among patients and workers and have been the hardest hit.
