Waterford — The town had 82 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, with 62 of them in long-term health care facilities, according to Stephen Mansfield, director of health for the Ledge Light Health District.

The town has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in New London County. As of Tuesday, the county had reported 369 confirmed cases, resulting in 13 deaths.

Waterford First Selectman Robert Brule reported on Facebook late Tuesday that a fourth resident had died from the coronavirus.

The numbers provided by the state have consistently lagged behind the local health district's numbers. Mansfield said by phone Wednesday that the state Department of Public Health indicated during a conference call that they have changed their reporting system, and that, in the future, it's likely the numbers will be more in line with what's provided at the local level.

"I fully expect the DPH numbers to be more accurate and timely moving forward," Mansfield said.

Nursing homes throughout the state and nation have been particularly hard hit by the virus. In Connecticut as of last week, nursing home deaths accounted for 37% of all COVID-19 deaths.

During a meeting of the Emergency Management Committee on Tuesday, Waterford Emergency Management Director Steve Sinagra reported that the Bayview Health Care nursing home at 301 Rope Ferry Road in Waterford has had 30 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the New London Sub Acute and Nursing facility at 88 Clark Lane in Waterford, also known as the New London Rehabilitation and Care Center, had 32 confirmed cases.

Bayview has 25 cases in-house and has had seven patients die since the outbreak began, officials said Wednesday in an online conference with family members.

All cases continue to be confined to the second floor of the two-story building at 301 Rope Ferry Road.

After an initial crush of cases, there have been only three new positive tests in the last week, Bayview Director of Nursing Jennifer Sorensen said. "We've really seen it level off," she said.

Of the seven residents who have died, some were hospitalized at the time and some were in-house, she said. One resident is hospitalized with COVID-19.

About half of the 25 positive cases are symptom-free, and some have had mild symptoms, Sorensen said. Others have had respiratory problems, and some have had to be hospitalized.

In response to a question about whether Bayview is adequately staffed, Sorensen said that while the staff is smaller than it was before the pandemic, "we have all hands on deck right now." Staff members are working as many as 70 hours a week, and people from other departments also are pitching in to help.

Bayview stopped accepting new patients about a week and a half ago, Sorensen said.

The state Department of Public Health is expected to provide an updated weekly report of statewide nursing home cases and deaths on Thursday.

In his Facebook post, First Selectman Brule said, "It is not the time to be casual or think we are clear of the risks. We are in the middle of it and we must not underestimate this virus. Please wear a mask in public, avoid congregating, wash your hands, stay home, stay safe and think beyond yourself. These next two weeks are critical. We will get through this!"

Day Staff Writer Sten Spinella contributed to this story.

k.florin@theday.com