An investigation is underway after a request for 25 body bags led police to discover more than a dozen bodies at a New Jersey nursing home.
ABC 6 reports state officials have opened an investigation at Andover Rehabilitation in Sussex County after multiple bodies were removed earlier this week. Police made the shocking discovery Monday after a request was made for 25 body bags and found 17 bodies in the center’s holding area.
Congressman Josh Gottheimer said in a statement that a total of 68 people from the nursing home have died and 76 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. 40 staff members also tested positive and two nurses died after contracting the virus.
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“When they called Saturday, they were desperate for body bags and what can we do to help. Overall, we need to figure out what went on here. Did they take all the steps necessary upfront for PPE? Did they segregate those who are positive?”
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The nursing home is the largest in the state holding 500 beds and Gottheim says their primary focus is saving lives:
“How do we help the residents there and how do we keep them safe? How do they get the care they need immediately, how do we save as many lives as possible? How do we stop the spread of the virus and how do we get PPE that staffing needs? It’s triage mode to help them,”