Massachusetts will pay $56 million to the families of veterans who died or residents who got COVID-19 at a state-run nursing facility for veterans center, as part of a settlement agreement.

The estates of veterans who died during the outbreak at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke in 2020 are expected to receive a minimum award of $400,000, while those who contracted Covid will be awarded at least $10,000, according to a news release from the governor’s office announcing the deal.

The settlement agreement is subject to a federal judge’s approval. The settlement includes veterans who lived in the home between March 1, 2020 and June 23, 2020, and who got sick or died from Covid during that time frame, according to the governor’s office.

“The COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home was a terrible tragedy. While we know nothing can bring back those who were lost, we hope that this settlement brings a sense of closure to the loved ones of the veterans,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement.

Previous reports indicated that 76 residents died of COVID-19 during the outbreak, but that number has jumped to 84 veterans following further investigation by the state, according to an Associated Press report.

Workers for the veterans’ home filed a separate class-action lawsuit alleging they were caring for sick and dying residents in “inhumane conditions.”

A report released on April 29 by the Office of the Inspector General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts criticized the hiring process of then Holyoke Superintendent Bennett Walsh.

Walsh, along with former Holyoke Medical Director Dr. David Clinton, later faced criminal charges – five a piece – for their handling of the Covid outbreak at the veterans’ home.

A judge dismissed the charges in November 2021 and one month later the state attorney general’s office appealed.

Charges were dismissed in November of last year and in December 2021 were appealed by the state attorney general’s office.

The investigation began in early April 2020 when the attorney general’s office learned that the home decided to consolidate two dementia units into one, which put symptomatic residents, confirmed COVID-19 positive residents and asymptomatic residents in the same unit.

In September 2020, Walsh and Clinton were indicted by a statewide grand jury on the charges of caretaker who wantonly or recklessly commits or permits bodily injury to an elder or disabled person and caretaker who wantonly or recklessly commits or permits abuse, neglect, or mistreatment to an elder or disabled person.

Former U.S. Attorney Donald Stern will serve as settlement claims administrator and will distribute awards to claimants based on individual circumstances, according to Gov. Baker’s office.

Settlement funds will also cover court payments and attorneys’ fees for the plaintiffs.

The Holyoke Soldiers’ Home features 247 long-term nursing beds, along with hospice care and therapy services.