A research firm has wrapped up and released its independent report on Connecticut's response to COVID-19 in the state's nursing homes.

Mathematica Policy Research's 151-page report says there was more the state could have done in the early days of the pandemic. The report makes recommendations about what can be done going forward.

The report says the state's early COVID-19 response focused on hospital capacity at the expense of nursing home safety.

Mathematica says future emergency response should include members of long-term care facilities.

But the report also finds that Connecticut's nursing homes were hit about as hard as other states in the region.

State Rep. Michelle Cook says nursing homes need to improve communication with loved ones. She lost her father-in-law to the virus in March after his facility had told the family it was coronavirus-free.

The report also recommends visitation be restricted by community and not statewide. Researchers say loneliness has serious effects on residents' well-being.