30 Veterans Dead in LaSalle, Dem House Chairman Investigating
30 veterans have now died in a COVID-19 outbreak at the state-run veterans’ home in LaSalle.
The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the 30th death from COVID-19 at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. A full quarter of residents have died in the typically 120 resident facility since the outbreak began sweeping through the facility about a month ago. 108 veterans have tested positive for the coronavirus along with 97 staff members.
Meanwhile, Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-Chicago), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee which oversees civil law, sent a letter Wednesday to LaSalle Veterans’ Home administrator Angela Mehlbrech informing her his committee is launching an investigation into the outbreak.
In the letter, Thapedi asks for information of vendors and details for hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment (PPE) utilized at the facility. An Illinois Department of Public Health site visit after the outbreak began showed the facility was not using hand sanitizer that killed the virus that causes COVID-19 and some staff weren’t using effective PPE.
The letter, provided to The Illinoize by Thapedi’s office, also asks for documents related to screening procedures, correspondence, site visits by IDPH, and reports related to the outbreak.
Thapedi gave the facility until December 9 to respond.
We’ve asked IDVA if it plans to respond to Thapedi’s request in full.