An independent investigation has been announced into the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home where 13 residents died during a coronavirus outbreak at the long-term care facility for veterans.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said former federal prosecutor Mark Pearlstein, who specializes in white-collar crime, will lead the investigation.
There is no timetable for when it might be finished.
"I don't anticipate anything at this point other than a thorough investigation by a trained professional who has an outstanding investigation who I believe will give us what we want which is answers to what happened there and what went wrong and why and what we can do to make sure it doesn't happen again," Baker said.
After learning for the first time about the deaths this week, new management was put in charge at the state-owned facility.
The National Guard was brought in to test the residents and the staff. Parts of the building are being cleaned and disinfected.
Baker said Wednesday that he believed all residents of the Soldiers' Home had now been tested for the coronavirus.
Top state and local officials and members of the veterans advocacy community said they were unaware of the gravity of the situation at the Soldiers Home until last weekend when someone anonymously contacted the office of Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse.
Two coronavirus-related deaths have been reported at a second long term care facility for veterans the state owns in Chelsea.
Baker said proper protocols are being followed at the Chelsea Soldiers' Home that should prevent the kind of tragedy that occured in Holyoke.
