HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs announced the first case of COVID-19 at the Floyd E. "Tut" Fan State Veterans Home in Huntsville on Tuesday, July 7.
ADVA Assignment Commissioner Bob Horton issued the following statement regarding the case:
"A person who is employed at the Floyd E. “Tut” Fan State Veterans Home in Huntsville has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus according to a report the home received on Tuesday. This is the first reported case of an employee at the home to test positive for the virus. The employee had last worked at the facility on July 1.
The state veterans homes began screening all employees and visitors on March 10 at pre-entrance points to the facilities. A person with a fever or who exhibits flu or cold symptoms are not allowed inside the facilities.
On March 12, the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) and the state veterans home care provider, Health Management Resources (HMR), implemented a restrictive visitation policy at the state’s four veterans homes to control exposing employees and veteran residents to the virus, and in early April, the homes discontinued new admissions.
By the end of June, all four homes completed universal testing for all residents and employees. The tests show that all residents at the four state veterans homes are virus-free.
The state veterans homes, as long-term care facilities, have in place protocols for infection prevention and control (IPC). In response to the COVID-19 virus, the homes expanded IPC based on guidelines for prevention, detection, and transmission of the virus, and by following protective measures for employees and residents.
The ADVA and HMR continue to work closely with the state and federal agencies on all reported positive cases.
Information about ADVA’s veterans homes visitation policy and other precautionary measures the department is taking in its response to the COVID-19 crisis is posted to the department’s website at www.va.alabama.gov."
The Floyd E. "Tut" Fan State Veterans Home in Huntsville is the area's only state-run veteran's home.
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