* From the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs…
May 11, 2020:
To residents, family members or responsible parties, and staff of the Illinois Veterans Home at Manteno:
One of the most crucial things we can do is continue to communicate with you in a timely, responsible, and transparent manner about COVID-19 (coronavirus). Please note that there have been thirty-nine (39) additional cases of COVID-19 at our home for a total of forty (40) cases. There are ten (10) cases in employees and thirty (30) cases in residents.
Our top priority is the health and safety of our military veterans and the heroic staff who care for them every day. We take this very seriously. We are following recommendations from local health officials and the Illinois Department of Public Health to safeguard everyone at the facility. This includes continuing our health screenings of staff and residents, maintaining social distancing practices, wearing face masks, using gloves and gowns when indicated, and intensified cleaning and disinfection protocols. Residents continue to be encouraged to stay in their rooms to minimize movement within the facility. We are working with public health officials regarding possible quarantines and to ensure the full protection, testing and care of anyone potentially exposed.
We are grateful to our team for remaining highly vigilant for signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and for being ready to respond swiftly, appropriately, and professionally to any potential cases.
We understand this news can be distressing, and we encourage you to contact your loved ones for mutual support of one another. Activities and social services staff continue to develop leisure activities, in accordance with social distancing practices, to care for the psychosocial wellbeing of our veterans. We promise to keep you informed as we do everything possible to keep our residents safe. Our military veterans and our wonderful home staff are strong and resilient people. With your continued support, we will get through this unprecedented time together.
Sincerely,
Tanya Smith, MSN, RN, LNHA
Administrator
- Perrid - Tuesday, May 12, 20 @ 4:13 pm:
40 people got sick all at once? If 30 residents have it it’s very likely it’s been spreading for a while. How often were people getting tested? Or if they weren’t being tested, was everyone asymptomatic?