Second resident dies at Jeanne Jugan in Newark; Little Sisters of the...

NEWARK — A second resident has died as a result of coronavirus at Jeanne Jugan Residence, others with the illness are improving and all of the 40 residents who live in nursing units are being treated with the greatest precaution, said Sister Constance Veit of the Little Sisters of the Poor.

“There are several more residents who are showing symptoms of the virus,” said Sister Constance. “At this point everyone in the two nursing units is being taken care of as if they have it, with the highest level of precautions. Obviously the situation is constantly evolving.”

The Delaware Department of Health and Human Services last week responded to a report of the death of the first resident, an 86-year-old male resident of Jeanne Jugan. He had underlying medical conditions, according to the state and Mother Margaret Regina Halloran, local superior at the Jeanne Jugan Residence.

At that time, six residents of the Newark nursing home tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Division of Public Health. DHSS said it was actively working with the facility to ensure resident and staff safety.

More than 66 people live at the non-profit continuing care retirement community run by the Little Sisters, including 40 residents in nursing units.

“There is an ongoing need for PPE, especially gowns and regulation N-95 masks, but we assume that most people would not have access to this,” Sister Constance said in an email March 30. “If there is anyone out there who works in the medical profession or otherwise has any information about how to obtain these, it would be most helpful.

“Otherwise what would be most helpful is monetary donations, which we will apply to getting whatever is needed as the situation arises.

“The greatest thing we need is prayer to ward off the virus and keep our residents and staff safe. Prayers for the staff are very important because without them we would be sunk. They are truly heroic.”

Sister Constance is director of communications for the Little Sisters of the Poor in the United States. The religious order sent her to Newark last week to contribute the effort to help residents and staff at Jeanne Jugan Residence.

Messages left Friday and Monday with Delaware Gov. John Carney’s office were not returned. In a public forum Friday, Carney said Jeanne Jugan “is an institution that has been serving the elderly for as long as I can remember, doing the work of their patron saint.”

HOW TO HELP:

A link to the donate page is here: https://littlesistersofthepoordelaware.weshareonline.org

Or people could send checks to:

Jeanne Jugan Residence

185 Salem Church Rd

Newark, DE 19713-2942