Third coronavirus death reported at Pompano Beach nursing home, another is hospitalized
A third resident of a Pompano Beach nursing home has died from the coronavirus, according to a letter management sent to residents and their families Wednesday.
Another resident was hospitalized Monday after showing symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, bringing the number of hospitalized residents to six.
In the letter signed by The Court at Palm Aire executive director Manuela Gironelle, Gironelle said the resident who passed away was taken to the hospital Tuesday.
“We were later notified that, sadly, this dear resident passed away that afternoon,” she wrote. “Our hearts go out to their family and friends during this difficult time, and we are committed to helping members of our community heal from this tragic loss.”
Earlier this week, management told family and friends in a letter that two other residents had died and five more had been hospitalized after testing positive. The Court at Palm Aire, 2701 N. Course Drive, has a four-star rating from Medicare.
None of the identities of the residents of the 60-bed facility who have been infected have been released.
A call to Palm Aire Wednesday was not immediately returned.
In the letter Wednesday, Gironelle said the facility is doing what it can to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“I cannot emphasize enough that the health and safety of our residents — your loved ones — and our team members is our number one priority,” she wrote. “Our dedicated caregivers have been monitoring all residents and staff for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, including with regular temperature checks, and we continue to engage with local health officials in Pompano Beach and follow all appropriate guidelines to mitigate the spread of the virus.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Health have spurned a public records request put forth by the Miami Herald on March 23, asking for the state to release information on which nursing homes and ALFs have residents and staffs who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The state is now facing a legal challenge on this matter from the Herald, which several news media organizations and the First Amendment Foundation have joined.
A spokeswoman for the governor’s office said Tuesday the governor was “still reviewing it.”
Miami Herald staff writer Ben Conarck contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 5:43 PM.
