HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Editor's note: The attached video was published when the first case of COVID-19 was reported at the Floyd E. "Tut" Fann State Veterans home.
Three employees at the Floyd E. "Tut" Fann State Veterans home have now tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs (ADVA).
As the ADVA continues its universal coronavirus testing for all residents and employees, more positive results are coming back. There were seven employees at the Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City and four employees at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander that have tested positive for the virus.
Additionally, nine residents and seven employees at the William F. Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette have tested positive for COVID-19
“The need for continued universal testing at the state veterans homes is critical to reducing the risk of spreading the virus,” said ADVA Commissioner Kent Davis. “By continuing to test on a regular basis, we are in a better position to mitigate the spread of the virus in the homes if we can identify those asymptomatic carriers of the virus.”
The ADVA said it completed it first round of universal testing at the end of June, when no residents or employees had tested positive.
“The homes continue to treat the pandemic as pervasive and a very high risk. That is why we continue to use the same protective measures and will be doing so for the foreseeable future. Now is not the time to let our guard down. As Alabama has seen troubling numbers of new COVID-19 patients over the past few weeks, we need to be even more diligent,” Davis added.
In early March, the ADVA and state veterans home care provider restricted visitations at its veterans homes and new admissions were discontinued in early April.
Click here to find out more about ADVA's visitation policy.
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