LITTLETON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A nurse who blew the whistle on a coronavirus outbreak at a care facility in Littleton has died after contracting COVID-19.
Maria Krier had been working at Life Care Center Nashoba Valley for a short time when she fell ill two weeks ago. Krier passed away on Friday, days after she had gone public with her concerns over how the facility was handling the outbreak of coronavirus.
Krier's accusations echoed those of local and state officials, who said Life Care Centers had been stonewalling them over investigation into the number of positive cases.
The National Guard was eventually brought in to test the facility's 109 residents, finding more than 60 percent had contracted the virus. Workers were never tested.
74 members of staff are now out sick at the facility in Littleton, 14 of whom have tested positive for coronavirus. At least ten residents have died from COVID-19. The facility is now asking all workers to also get tested.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of one our associates during these challenging times the country is experiencing,” said Kate O’Connor, Life Care Centers regional vice president. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends.”
Life Care Centers is also facing a wrongful death lawsuit in Washington state, where the nation's first outbreak of coronavirus occurred at the company's Kirkland location, claiming at least 35 lives.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kendall Buhl (@KBuhlWBZ) reports:
(Photo: Getty Images)
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