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SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — Over the weekend, COVID-19 cases in Berrien County had spiked to 105, and five deaths as a result of the virus had been reported.

Monday, local officials announced they had identified a nursing home where three of the five deaths had taken place.

The Berrien County Health Department and Spectrum Health Lakeland are working to investigate a cluster of COVID-19 illness at Hallmark Living Benton Harbor, a skilled nursing facility in Benton Harbor. To date, four employees and four residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Three of the residents who tested positive and had been terminally ill prior to COVID-19 diagnosis have died.

The employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 are isolating at home and are no longer having contact with any of the facility residents, according to representatives. The facility residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 are being isolated in their rooms and all group activities have been canceled at this time. All residents and employees are being monitored for COVID-19 symptoms.

The Hallmark Living Center has been working closely with the Berrien County Health Department to ensure residents and staff are safe by following Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Berrien County Health Department will continue to monitor this group of positive cases, as well as provide needed personal protective equipment and infection control guidance needed by the facility.

The Hallmark Living Center is implementing all recommended outbreak mitigation strategies to protect their residents and employees from COVID-19:

• Taking temperatures on all residents and staff twice a day.
• Shutting down all communal spaces and residents are quarantined to their rooms.
• Prohibiting all visitors to the facility.
• Enhancing hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment for staff.
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the facility.

“We have known that COVID-19 is present in our community, but this cluster of illnesses and loss of life at a facility serving some of our most vulnerable in our population is a sobering reminder that our community must continue to be vigilant with our actions to keep this virus from spreading,” said Nicki Britten, health officer at the Berrien County Health Department. “In addition to continuing mitigation strategies in the community, our department will continue to address the needs of our vulnerable populations, including those who live in congregate settings like long-term care facilities.”

Also Monday, the Berrien County Health Department had announced that of the county’s 105 cases, 53 had recovered.

Nearby, Cass County has reported 11 COVID-19 cases and one death, while Van Buren County reported 22 cases and one death.