JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — The owner of the Tanglewood Group in Jamestown is speaking out after dozens of his residents and staff tested positive for the coronavirus, part of a large cluster of COVID-19 cases at the long-term care facility.

What You Need To Know

  • There is a cluster of positive COVID-19 cases at the Tanglewood Group
  • Dozens of residents and a few staff members tested positive and are recovering
  • All activities have been canceled and families have been notified

"This is a terrible ailment. It's just part of the business," said Nicholas Ferreri, Tanglewood Group owner.

Ferreri, the longtime owner of Tanglewood Manor and Memory Garden in Jamestown, has watched his long-term care facilities go through cold, flu, and pneumonia seasons in the past.

Chautauqua County leaders on Monday announced 45 COVID-19 cases were linked to Tanglewood Manor and Memory Garden, 43 of them residents and two being staff members.​

"But most of these residents, you wouldn't know otherwise. I was surprised because no one is showing any symptoms. If I didn't do the testing, we wouldn't know. And how would you tell?" said Ferreri.

Ferreri says in addition to the ongoing weekly testing of the staff, he decided to get all the residents tested as well, after a handful of positive tests came back about a month ago. 

"And that was really the first time over all this period of time because we've been very careful. Of course following the mandates of no visitations, etc.," said Ferreri.

Ferreri says the facilities are large enough that those impacted have all been put in isolation.

He says all activities have stopped and families have been notified.

"Our mission is to care. And when things get tough, that's when we even have to be better. I guarantee that they will get all the care that they need and beyond that. I truly believe within two to three weeks this thing should be gone," said Ferreri.

Ferreri says he'll be back with the residents next week.