3 Residents At Worcester Nursing Home Have Died Of The Coronavirus, 13 Others Tested Positive

Worcester officials say three residents of the Jewish Health Care Center in the city have died after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Thirteen other residents at the nursing home who tested positive are now in isolation.

State health and human services secretary Marylou Sudders said this week that there are now clusters of the virus in close to 80 longterm care facilities in the state.

"We know from the experience of other states that there would be clusters, but frankly, if we hadn't put the restrictions in place that we had, the situation probably would be worse," Sudders said. "We are working hard to mitigate these clusters and keep residents and staff safe."

State health officials have told facilities to restrict all non-essential visitors and stop providing meals in group settings.