It wasn’t long ago that Franklin County residents were upset by the lack of COVID-19 information coming from local nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The most egregious instance was the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, with more than 70 residents dying of the coronavirus and more than 75 still testing positive. If the severity had been reported early on, Rep. Paul Mark, (D-Peru) said, help could have come earlier.
Thanks to fast work supported by our Franklin County delegation, the Massachusetts House approved and sent to the Senate legislation (House Bill 4667) that would require long-term care facilities, assisted living residences, elderly housing facilities and soldiers’ homes to report daily the number of known COVID-19 positive cases and deaths among residents and staff, not only to local departments of health, and the Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH), but also directly to residents’ families.
The Senate, in its turn, added some teeth to the bill in the form of accountability.
“We can’t just ask that this be reported and then not do anything about any issues that arise,” Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, said. The changes, Comerford explained, not only asks the administration to react quickly when it sees problems, but also to release an action plan based on the data. “We have to be accountable for what we find in the data,” Comerford said.
The action piece is an important addition to this legislation, ensuring that the data is used to improve conditions in these facilities. Next steps are reconciliation of any variations between the House and Senate versions and, finally, Gov. Charlie Baker’s signature. The end product will protect residents throughout the course of this pandemic.
Continuing our sporadic look back at precoronavirus days of a year ago this week, from the pages of the Greenfield Recorder.
Monday, May 20, 2019: “The cost of cage-free chickens.” Diemand Farm in Wendell scrambles to change its business model and save the family business.
“Petrin powers Pubmen.” Smitty’s Pub opened the 2019 Franklin County Babe Ruth League season with a 10-3 victory over Turners Falls Athletic Club at Abercrombie Field in Greenfield.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019: “Eagles fly into playoffs.” Franklin County Technical School baseball team clinches a postseason berth in style.
Thursday, May 23, 2019: “Judge rules in favor of big box store.” French King Highway development given OK almost 10 years after project first proposed.
Friday, May 24, 2019: “Memorial Day celebrations throughout county.”
“Red Hawks best in West again.” Frontier clinches its second straight Hampshire League West Division title.
Saturday, May 25, 2019: “Bank rebuilding project picking up speed.” The city strives to bring the First National Bank project on Bank Row back into use.
O, halcyon days.