Nursing Home Shows Cases, State Said None

Though state reports showed a Pittsfield nursing home had no COVID-19 cases, Springside Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center told residents’ families something else, The coronavirus had infected people in the facility.

The Berkshire Eagle reports that the discrepancy suggests that despite daily and weekly statistics provided by the state Department of Public Health, it can be difficult for families to monitor outbreaks of a virus that as of Monday had killed more than 5,500 people in long-term care facilities.

In a robocall to families in July, a Springside official said testing had revealed four cases of COVID-19 at the facility, including one staff member.

A DPH spokeswoman said the next weekly summary on cases in long-term care centers, due Wednesday, will list the COVID-19 cases at Springside.