HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The coronavirus has made its way into veterans homes in Alabama, but the one in Huntsville still has no cases.
On Thursday, the National Guard surveyed the Floyd E. "Tut" Fann State Veterans Home to help with decontamination. They say they're taking precautions to make sure an outbreak doesn't happen there.
Commissioner Kent Davis with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs said, "It is a high risk situation. Plus, you have a high density population in those facilities. If you get one person who is able of communicating that viral disease, it's a problem in an environment like that."
Residents in state veterans homes who test positive are isolated, and employees who show symptoms are not allowed inside the facilities.
A recent outbreak at a veterans home in Alexander City lead to 25 residents and 18 staff members contracting the virus. At least two of those residents have died.
The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs says they're taking steps to prevent that from happening in Huntsville.
"As the crisis elevated, we instituted even more precautionary measures going first with full masks. At one of our homes, we're in full personal protective equipment as we've had positive test results come back at that state veterans home," said Davis.
The ADVA recently saw a spike in coronavirus cases. They say that's because more test results are coming back.
"Yesterday, we made a formal request through FEMA, the state EMA, and with assistance from the federal VA to do even more rigorous testing," said Davis. "We're pushing for 100% testing in our state veterans homes to get a baseline."
Because of potential shortages, Tut Fann Veterans Home is hiring nurse aides.
Davis says HMR of Alabama Inc., the operator of the Tut Fann facility, has subcontracted with a temp medical agency to augment staffs when necessary.
"In some cases, we've had to quarantine staff members if they test positive. That creates a shortage, so to fill those shortages, absolutely HMR has reached out for some temporary medical assistance," said Davis.
They say they're continuing to seek out new ways to combat this virus.