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>> SO LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MY BROTHER BOB. THIS IS HIM. HE IS REALLY, REALLY WELL KNOWN FOR HIS TOOTHY GRIN. REPORTER: DEB COOKSEY’S 58-YEAR-OLD BROTHER BOB IS ONE OF FIVE PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES LIVING IN A GROUP HOME IN FRAMINGHAM. SHE AND HER FAMILY HAVEN’T SEEN HIM IN WEEKS. >> SO HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND IT. AND WHEN WE TALK TO HIM ON THE PHONE OR FACETIME HIM, HE IS DOING A LOT OF CRYING. I’M AFRAID. REPORTER: COOKSEY IS TERRIFIED HER BROTHER WILL BECOME SICK. >> THERE IS NO SOCIAL DISTANCING IN A HOME WITH FIVE RESIDENT . AT ANY POINT IN TIME NINE OR 10 , STAFF CYCLING IN AND OUT OF THE HOME. REPORTER: NUMBERS FROM THE STATE SHOW A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN COVID-19 INFECTIONS IN JUST ONE WEEK. LAST WEDNESDAY 44 PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN GROUP HOMES AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES AND 42 STAFF TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS. THIS WEDNESDAY THAT NUMBER JUMPED TO 122 PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND 150 STAF THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AMONG INDIVIDUALS SERVED IS ALSO RISING, FROM ONE LAST WEEK TO THREE THIS WEEK. >> SO THIS WAS MY FIRST PROTOTYPE. IT’S FROM FABRIC THAT I COULD FIGURE OUT FROM THE ARTS AND CRAFTS BINS. REPORTER: THERE’S A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN GROUP HOMES. COOKSEY IS PUZZLED WHY THE STATE IS NOT MANDATING ALL STAFF TO WEAR CLOTH MASKS AT A MINIMU >> UNTIL WE HAVE CONSISTENT GUIDELINES COMING DOWN FROM OUR STATE REGULATORY AGENCIES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, THESE ARE NOT GOING TO BE REQUIRED. THE MASKS ARE NOT REQUIRED IN THE HOMES RIGHT NOW. REPORTER: IT’S NOT CLEAR WHERE THIS IS HEADING IN MASSACHUSETTS, BUT THE SITUATION AT GROUP HOMES IS DIRE IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA, THE EPICENTER OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS IN THE U.S. AN ORGANIZATION OF GROUP HOMES FOUND THAT RESIDENTS IN THAT REGION WERE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION TO DEVELOP COVID-19 AND NEARLY FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM I >> I LOVE HIM AND I MISS HIM, AND I PRAY THAT WE CAN ALL MAKE THIS THROUGH TOGETHER. REPORTER: THE STATE TELLS US IT IS PROVIDING MASKS TO GROUP HOMES WHEN SOMEONE IN THE HOME HAS SYMPTOMS OR TESTS POSITIVE. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE

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The number of COVID-19 infections among people with developmental disabilities and the staff that work with them has more than tripled, leaving family members worried more than ever about the safety of their vulnerable loved ones.Deb Cooksey hasn't seen her brother Bob, 58, in weeks. He lives with four other people with developmental disabilities in a group home in Framingham."He is really, really well known for his toothy grin," she said. "He doesn't understand it. And when we talk to him on the phone or FaceTime him, he is doing a lot of crying. I'm afraid." Cooksey is terrified her brother will become sick."There is no social distancing in a home with five residents and at any point in time, nine or 10 staff cycling in and out of the home," she said.Last Wednesday, 44 people with developmental disabilities in group homes and residential facilities and 42 staff tested positive for coronavirus.This Wednesday, the number of people with disabilities testing positive jumped 177 percent to 122, and the number of staff jumped 257 percent to 150.The number of deaths among individuals rose from one last week to a total of three this week.There's a severe shortage of personal protective equipment in group homes. And Cooksey is puzzled why the state is not mandating all staff to wear cloth masks at a minimum."Until we have consistent guidelines coming down from from our state regulatory agencies to the Department of Developmental Services, these are not going to be required. The masks are not required in the homes right now," she said.A spokesperson for the state Department of Developmental Services said it is providing masks to group homes when someone in the home has symptoms or tests positive.The agency is working with the state Department of Public Health and providers and is notifying families and guardians "immediately" when a positive case is identified, a spokesperson said in a statement."Keeping individuals safe is our top priority – and providers and staff have been diligent in maintaining safety and isolation protocols. We are deeply grateful to our direct care staff working on the front lines of this crisis, and the individuals and families we serve for their commitment, creativity, and support during this challenging time," the agency said in a statement. It's not clear where this is heading in Massachusetts, but the situation at group homes is dire in the New York City area, the epicenter of COVID-19 infections in the US.An organization of group homes in the New York City metropolitan area did a study of residents in that region and found they were five times more likely than the general population to develop COVID-19 and nearly five times more likely to die from it.Cooksey is worried."I love him and I miss him. And I pray that we can all make this through together," she said.