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A coronavirus outbreak at a convent close to Albany has contaminated practically half of its roughly 100 residents, leaving 9 sisters useless in December, the convent and native officers mentioned on Sunday.
The outbreak came about within the St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham, N.Y., the headquarters of the Albany Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Residents embrace sisters who’re retired and who’ve long-term well being care wants.
Forty-seven residents have been contaminated since October, in response to Sister Joan Mary Hartigan, director of the Albany Province. She mentioned that almost all have recovered however three are nonetheless being handled. She mentioned 21 workers had beforehand examined optimistic for the virus and recovered, and 5 extra have gentle signs and are quarantining at residence.
Those who died have been between 84 and 98 years previous.
“We pray the increasing number of cases across our country is temporary, and we mourn the loss not only of our nine sisters who have succumbed to this awful disease, but also the loss of all life during this pandemic around the world,” she mentioned in an announcement on Sunday. “We look forward to the vaccine and the end of this worldwide health crisis.”
For months, officers have recognized that individuals who dwell in congregate housing, notably older residents at locations like convents and nursing houses, are notably susceptible to the virus’s devastation, making it much more putting that an outbreak may nonetheless hit a spot just like the convent in Latham.
At least 106,000 coronavirus deaths have been reported amongst residents and workers of nursing houses and different long-term care services for older adults throughout the nation.
Sister Hartigan mentioned the provincial home was following pointers to “limit the spread of the virus to the greatest extent possible, including using appropriate personal protective equipment, quarantining sisters who are Covid-19 positive and prohibiting all public access.”
Daniel P. McCoy, the Albany County govt, mentioned that the congregation had first sought assist from the county to deal with an outbreak within the fall. He mentioned the county helped with testing and speak to tracing to stem that outbreak.
Mr. McCoy mentioned officers have been working to grasp the scope of the December outbreak after the Albany Times-Union final week reported the deaths of 9 folks related to the congregation.
“Covid-19 is not done with us,” Mr. McCoy mentioned. “That’s why you see these alarming numbers.”
The first loss of life from the outbreak occurred on Dec. 1 and the latest loss of life on Dec. 22, in response to Cameron Sagan, a spokesman for Albany County, serving to to make December probably the most lethal month within the county because the pandemic started.
Mary DeTurris Poust, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Albany, referred questions concerning the outbreak to the congregation. But she mentioned the diocese was “praying for the sisters during this challenging time.”
“In addition to the loss of so many beloved sisters who served others so selflessly for decades, there is the added difficulty of not being able to celebrate their lives as a community due to Covid restrictions,” she mentioned.
The deaths at St. Joseph’s Provincial House, about seven miles north of downtown Albany, got here because the virus continued to surge within the area and throughout the state.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo mentioned on Sunday that 7,963 folks have been hospitalized, up 149 over the day earlier than and greater than double the quantity originally of December. The statewide price of optimistic check outcomes was 7.98 p.c, in contrast with round 5 p.c originally of December.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio mentioned on Sunday that the seven-day common positivity price was 9.08 p.c. The price was about 5.5 p.c originally of December. Hospitalizations have additionally been on the rise, with the seven-day common at 224 a day on the finish of December, in contrast with 151 originally of the month.
While officers hope the state’s rollout of the vaccine will assist battle the surge, public well being specialists say there may be an pressing want to choose up the tempo.
Other convents within the nation have additionally been rocked by outbreaks. A convent in Michigan misplaced 13 sisters to the coronavirus between April and June.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet traces its historical past again to 1650, when the primary sisters gathered in Le Puy, France, in response to the congregation’s web site. The congregation established a presence in America and New York within the mid-1800s. About 1,000 sisters serve all over the world in the present day.
Mr. McCoy mentioned that whereas congregate services just like the convent are just like nursing houses, they weren’t required to report deaths to the county, slowing native officers’ capability to reply to an outbreak. He referred to as on the state to shut the “loophole” and direct comparable services to report the deaths to native officers.
“We have to identify these places, to make sure A, they are getting testing and B, they are getting assistance that they need,” he mentioned.
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