MERIDEN, Conn. — Trying to avoid more nursing home outbreaks, the state is reopening one of their COVID recovery centers. At the same time, the operator of those facilities is making some recommendations. When COVID only recovery centers opened in the Spring, the state was worried the hospitals would be overrun. Back then, their mission was only to free up hospital beds by moving people who needed an intermediate level to the recovery centers. But as the months went on, the state revised the mission and allowed the centers to accept COVID patients from long-term care facilities.

Now, with COVID cases in long-term care facilities on the rise, the COVID only facility known as Westfield-Meriden will re-open by November 16th. “Initially we will be able to accommodate up to 90 residents and as time goes on, we can grow that as well,” said Tim Brown, the spokesperson for Athena Healthcare who operates the facilities. Athena also has the capability to quickly stand up an additional recovery center in Torrington.