ANDOVER, NJ – The small town of Andover, New Jersey has a very big coronavirus problem, but after 68 people died on one nursing home, police here want to reassure residents that the outbreak was contained to that facility. Over the weekend, after receiving a call about a body being stored in a shed at the Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center, police investigated.
What they found was a morgue within the facility, designed to hold just four bodies has 17 bodies inside. Altogether, police said 68 people associated with that nursing home have died of coronavirus, including two staff members and the deaths went unreported to law enforcement and health officials.
“While the statistics as they pertain to Andover Township appear to be alarming as to the number of reported positive tests for COVID-19, we want to inform you a large portion of these numbers are within a long term care facility,” the Andover Police Department said. “This is in no way a statement to diminish the importance of the numbers being reported but to provide as much information as possible to our residents. Please continue to practice social distancing and making certain to wash your hands as well as following all NJ State Department of Health and CDC guidelines which are in place. We continue to wish everyone to stay safe and healthy.”
The facility, with over 700 beds, is New Jersey’s largest licensed facility of its type in New Jersey. 76 residents tested positive for COVID-19 along with 41 employees.