Beaver Co. officials express concern about coronavirus in nursing home

BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. — The Beaver County Commissioners held a news conference Thursday afternoon expressing their concern about the lack of communication from Brighton Rehab Center.

Brighton Rehab has had dozens of cases of COVID-19 and several deaths. Earlier this month, leaders within the nursing home announced that they were operating as if all 800 residents and staff members were positive.

Have questions about the spread of the coronavirus? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak. CLICK HERE for more.

“We’re having our own pandemic in Beaver County at one facility,” said commissioner Tony Amadio. “Most of this – probably 80% is coming from one facility.”

During the news conference, one Beaver Co. leader also expressed concern that different infection numbers are being released from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

The state’s emergency management agency said there have been 104 positive cases at Brighton Rehab, but the health department is reporting 70 confirmed cases.

“Today we asked the management at Brighton Rehab to be transparent -- as it is important to the families of loved ones who are living there, the local medical facilities and medical community at large to understand the situation in their facility,” said commissioner Daniel Camp.

County leaders said not only can they not get an honest or accurate number of coronavirus cases in the nursing home, but they also can't get ahold of anyone at the facility.

On top of that, leaders were tasked with dispelling a headline taken out of context when it was made public that a local ice arena was being chilled in case of a massive death toll.

For the past 30 years, the county has had a mass fatality plan in place that includes being able to use the ice arena as a morgue if need be. However, leaders said they're nowhere near that point.

The latest reported numbers from Beaver County include a death toll of 24 from COVID-19. Commissioners said that number could very well be higher as they fight for accurately reported numbers.

Workers at Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center demand additional protection Workers at Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center demand additional protection

© 2020 Cox Media Group