MARION — Sippican Healthcare Center now has 15 deaths due to covid, according to Kathy Soderberg, Chief Compliance Officer of the healthcare center’s parent company, Whittier Health. 

Cases skyrocketed at the healthcare center when a 33-case cluster broke out early in November. Before the November outbreak, the healthcare center was able to successfully keep covid rates low, with only twelve cases between May and the start of the outbreak. 

Since the outbreak, Sippican Healthcare Center’s total case count has reached 136. 10 residents and staff have been hospitalized due to covid. 

It is unclear when the deaths and hospital visits occurred. However, Sippican Week last reported that the healthcare center had seen two deaths on Nov. 29. 

In an email to Sippican Week, Soderberg wrote that the healthcare center is “doing everything it can” to prevent the spread of covid and follow state and federal guidance when cases do occur. 

Measures the center is taking include prohibiting visitors and enforcing social distancing and separation of residents, screening employees every shift, and requiring employees to use personal protective equipment such as N-95 masks, gowns and gloves. 

Still, Soderberg wrote that full prevention is a challenge.  

“Even despite Sippican’s extraordinary efforts, when there is community spread COVID, it can be very difficult to prevent COVID from getting into the facility,” she wrote. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the residents and employees and their loved ones who have been impacted.”

Sippican Healthcare Center has 14 ongoing cases as of Dec. 11. The most recent case was reported on Dec. 7.