Workers at a Milford nursing home with an explosion of coronavirus cases claim a nurse who tested positive for COVID-19 is still working at the facility, and that the outbreak began long before most residents' families were told.

State officials confirmed Friday that 44 residents at the facility contracted COVID-19. A health care worker with firsthand knowledge says outbreak began more than week before that.

The worker claims the first case arose on March 26, when a newly admitted patient immediately showed common COVID-19 symptoms, including a spiked fever, sore throat and a tight chest.

In spite of all those symptoms, the worker claims a nurse did not wear personal protective equipment while testing the patient for the flu.

"No mask or nothing," the worker told News 12. "Like, just gloves."

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Golden Hill Rehab's director, Andrew Wildman, said in a statement, "This information is incorrect... anyone who is recommended to wear PPE, based on health official directions, has been required to wear and provided the appropriate PPE."

Other workers and residents say many of the nurses are sick too, and that a nursing supervisor is in intensive care.

Meghan Wright, a relative of a Golden Hill Rehab employee, says that the facility is so understaffed that a nurse who tested positive for COVID-19 is still working with residents.

Golden Hill's director did not directly refute the allegation.

“We cannot discuss our employees and if they have COVID or not,” Wildman said in an e-mail. “No sick employees are working at the facility.”

The state Department of Public Health has refused to give an updated number of coronavirus case at the facility, saying, "It is under investigation so we cannot comment." In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Ned Lamont's office said the facility is not facing sanctions or disciplinary action.

"It's more a reference to the assistance that's being provided right now to help ensure that, that facility is able and doing the right things to take care of its residents," said Josh Geballe, the governor's chief operating officer.