LAKELAND, Fla. — Highlands Lake Center in Lakeland has the fourth most coronavirus deaths in the state, according to a report from the Florida Department of Health dated for the week of May 6.

The report lists 12 COVID-19 deaths attributed to Highlands Lake Center. 

Goldie Lee Cummings, 85, is one of the 12 Highlands Lake Center residents who died from COVID-19. She tested positive for the virus on April 9 and died 11 days later on April 20.  When she was taken to the hospital on April 12, her daughter convinced hospital staff to allow her to care for her mother at home since she was a nurse. 

According to the medical examiner’s report, Cummings had symptoms of a fever initially. Her underlying medical conditions were dementia and COPD, a lung disease that blocks airflow and makes it difficult to breathe.

Her grandson Tyler Fox said it’s still surreal. 

“It’s just really strange to see someone I would talk to on the phone and stuff and have these really long conversations with and then out of no where it just like ended,” said Tyler Fox. 

Fox last visited her on March 7, a week before the facility stopped visitation on March 14.

 “I’m happy now that she’s not suffering from it. That was my main concern once I learned she had it,” said Fox. 

Highlands Lake Center’s first coronavirus patient death came April 3, according to a medical examiner’s report. Fox said his grandmother’s room was across the hall from that patient. They still wonder how the virus got into the facility. 

Suffering from dementia, the family also wonders if her friendly personality led to her catching the virus. 

“She was very mobile and stuff so she would go and visit other residents everyday. I’m not sure at what point she contracted it,” Fox said. 

A Florida Department of Health report indicates the Highlands Lake Center currently has seven residents with coronavirus. Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center is currently treating 47 of its residents who've contracted the virus. In addition, 23 of its staff members have contracted it. 

While the place was cutoff from family visitation since March 14, its Facebook page indicates they were still playing hallway bingo with residents on Mar. 24 with the message, “Nothing keeps us down.” 

The facility has almost daily posts on Facebook but it wasn’t until April 20 that its page admitted it had coronavirus cases. 

By then six residents had died. 

Now a serious outbreak at the facility, the company’s website has since been updated with information. Since April 1, it reveals that 68 residents, nearly half of the facility’s 140 residents tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The attorney for Highlands Lake Center has not responded to our questions and requests for an interview.