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A COVID-19 outbreak at an Illinois Veterans home has now left 33 residents dead.
The COVID-19 outbreak that killed 33 veterans started in early November. Along with the deaths, dozens of staff members and residents tested positive throughout the month. Ultimately, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs fired Home Administrator Angela Mehlbrech. The department s Acting Assistant Director Anthony Vaughn is now serving as the interim administrator at the home. Along with personnel changes, officials with the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs report they have implemented recommendations from the state health department and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
After hours of listening to officials, lawmakers grew frustrated at Wednesday s hearing. They want a specific timeline of what happened.
Here’s a clarification: Dr. Hart has been consulting with IDPH since early in the pandemic on long-term care facilities. There’s a team of experts in various areas that IDPH convened for COVID-19 response and support, developing guidelines, etc. People might not like hearing “consultant,” but when there’s talk about “the doctors” and “the scientists” and “the experts,” these are the people.
=== “What I’m curious about is, when is someone going to own this?” he asked. “We all feel bad, we all are devastated at the loss of these 33 individuals, but I keep hearing dodges, I keep hearing explanations. I don’t hear ownership.”
Normal, IL, USA / www.cities929.com
Dec 16, 2020 5:14 PM
(The Center Square) â Some state lawmakers said they were left with more questions than answers after a nearly four-hour hearing focused on a COVID-19 outbreak at a state-run veteranâs home that killed at least 33 residents.
Officials from the Illinois Department of Veteransâ Affairs were on hand to answer questions Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health said department officials sent consultant Dr. Avery Hart, but he couldn t answer all the questions posed by committee members.
âI wasnât in the mix at that point so I donât think I would comment,â Hart said. âI know thereâs an independent investigation by the inspector general to clarify the timeline.â
LaSalle Veterans’ Home | Courtesy: State of Illinois
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) Some state lawmakers said they were left with more questions than answers after a nearly four-hour hearing focused on a COVID-19 outbreak at a state-run veteran’s home that killed at least 33 residents.
Officials from the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs were on hand to answer questions Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health said department officials sent consultant Dr. Avery Hart, but he couldn’t answer all the questions posed by committee members.
“I wasn’t in the mix at that point so I don’t think I would comment,” Hart said. “I know there’s an independent investigation by the inspector general to clarify the timeline.”