Sixth and seventh COVID-19 deaths tied to Seminole nursing home outbreak

Ambulances line the entrance before the remaining 39 residents are evacuated from Freedom Square of Seminole on Friday. Two more nursing home residents have died of coronavirus, bringing the death toll to seven. [DIRK SHADD | Times]

By Kathryn Varn

SEMINOLE — Two more residents of the Freedom Square of Seminole retirement community died of the coronavirus this week.

A total of seven people have now died after contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, while living at Seminole Pavilion Rehabilitation, a nursing home facility on Freedom Square’s campus.

Donald Jack, 74, died Tuesday at Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, according to the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner’s Office.

Christopher Pugh, 84, died late Wednesday at Suncoast Hospice Care Center North Pinellas.

Both tested positive for COVID-19 while they were residents at Seminole Pavilion Rehabilitation, then were moved to local hospitals.

Their deaths were reported amid mounting scrutiny of how Freedom Square’s management has handled the virus since the coronavirus outbreak became public knowledge last week.

Residents were evacuated from the nursing home facility on Friday, and seven more residents tested positive this week in the community’s other buildings, according to a memo obtained by the Tampa Bay Times. At least 54 residents and 33 employees have tested positive. Results are pending for 287 other employees.

The National Guard is expected to arrive in Pinellas County on Friday to test residents and employees at skilled-nursing centers around the county.

Jack was taken to Northside on Friday for treatment of flu-like symptoms, including pneumonia, according to the medical examiner’s report. His health steadily declined until he died Tuesday. He tested positive for the virus twice, once at the nursing home, and again at the hospital. He had a history of lymphoma, diabetes and hypertension.

Pugh was transferred from the nursing home to Largo Medical Center on April 13 for treatment of respiratory distress and brain damage, according to the Medical Examiner’s reports. Eight days later, he was moved to hospice care. His health history included dementia, hypertension and cardiomyopathy.

Pugh also tested positive while living at the nursing home.

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Sixth and seventh COVID-19 deaths tied to Seminole nursing home outbreak

Two residents at separate central Pa. nursing homes die from traumatic neck injuries

By Jana Benscoter

Two residents died at separate Lancaster County nursing homes in 2019 as a result of workers not complying with patient transfer policies, according to a media report.

The coroner determined both residents suffered from traumatic neck injuries after falling while being transferred by one worker instead of the required two, Lancaster Online reported.

In its report, the Pennsylvania Department of Health did not name the residents or employees. The incidents happened on Aug. 1 at Lancashire Hall and Sept. 8 at Mennonite Home Communities.

The reports detail what happened. 

During the Lancashire Hall incident, Lancaster Online reported that the "nurse aid transferring the resident committed another violation by not notifying a nurse of the incident. The report says the nurse aid instead claimed the resident was found in bed bleeding from the forehead.”

Since that incident, the department of health noted in its report that “numerous meetings to re-educate staff held as part of the plan of correction, along with reviews extending one month before and six months after the incident,” Lancaster Online reported.

The other incident occurred at Mennonite Home, which released the following statement to LNP: “an unfortunate and isolated incident due to the conduct of an employee who was terminated following a thorough investigation.”

"The entire Mennonite Home team is deeply saddened by this event, and we have expressed our sincere remorse to the resident’s family,” the statement said. “Mennonite Home Communities has a long and cherished history of providing outstanding care and we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our residents and team members.”

A follow-up survey the department conducted Dec. 19 "validated that Mennonite Home successfully implemented the approved plan of correction,” which included education and audits, according to the statement.

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Two residents at separate central Pa. nursing homes die from traumatic neck injuries