Vulnerable residents of nursing and group homes on Long Island have been hit hard by coronavirus.

A COVID-19 outbreak hit the Bayville facility of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County on March 24. More than three dozen residents have tested positive - leaving eight people hospitalized and four dead. Executive Director Bob McGuire became emotional when giving News 12 an update, choking back tears.

Nine residents of the Peconic Landing assisted living community in Greenport have died from COVID-19. A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale has lost 17 residents to coronavirus, with 24 more testing positive.

"We have seen a very sad and staggering number of deaths at A. Holly Patterson,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.

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McGuire says it’s impossible to follow social distancing orders at a group home for people with developmental disabilities.

"Many of the residents who live in Bayville, in order to care for them, require two-person lift,” says McGuire. "So there's no social distancing when you're doing two-people lifts."

 

McGuire says his staff is also struggling with a shortage of PPE supplies.

“Some of my staff were wearing plastic garbage bags, just as you saw at hospitals,” says McGuire. "Masks have been in short supply."

Despite the challenges, McGuire says his staff is facing a merciless virus with boundless devotion to care for the residents.