MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Sundale Nursing Home said in a Facebook post Friday that none of its patients had died in connection with the coronavirus.
“There was miscommunication on our part last night, we have NOT had any fatalities at this point. That is NO Fatalities at this point,” the post said.
Someone at Sundale had reported the death to the Monongalia County Health Department which then sent the information to the state Department of Health and Human Resources. The DHHR issued a news release Friday morning that said a 76-year-old man with underlying medical conditions had died.
Sundale Marketing Director Donna Tennant said the man is still alive at the hospital.
“We are continuing to follow his progress,” Tennant said.
Tennant said the first report came from a staff member.
“She was told that this individual had passed away and that the family was not going to be able to have a service. She went into detail,” Tennant said. “However, then later last day we found out this man did not pass away.”
In a letter to the DHHR Friday, Sundale CEO Michael Hicks apologized for the confusion and erroneous reporting. Hicks said the man is in critical condition.
Sundale continues to investigate the miscommunication.
As of Thursday evening, 21 patients at Sundale had been confirmed as positive coronavirus cases along with eight staff members.
The DHHR said it has recorded 76 confirmed cases in West Virginia.
