31 infected in COVID-19 outbreak at Missouri Veterans Home/Mt. Vernon; staff and residents

First confirmed case appears day after Gov. Parson visit, Parson also confirmed positive
 
The Missouri Veterans Commission reported that a total of 31 people at the Missouri Veterans Home/Mt. Vernon, including 27 resident veterans and four staff members, have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Oct. 1.
According to a press release published by the Missouri Veteran’s Commission on Friday, Oct. 2, the cases were discovered due to “robust COVID-19 testing” of veterans and staff. The press release reported that over 21,000 COVID-19 tests on veterans and staff have been conducted in the past four months.
“From the first day that COVID-19 was detected in Missouri, the Veterans Homes implemented an extensive plan based on best practices to attempt to keep the virus out of our homes and protect our veterans,” the press release cited MVC Executive Director Paul Kirchhoff as saying. “This has included limiting access, setting up quarantine and isolation areas in advance, extensive use of Personal Protective Equipment and increased cleaning and hygiene measures. We are concerned to see the heroes we care for dealing with this disease that is so virulent among the elderly and vulnerable populations.”
 The Mt. Vernon facility is not the only Missouri Veterans Home to see residents and staff infected with COVID-19. According to the press release, the other Veterans Homes reporting COVID-19 cases include: Cameron Veterans Home, two veterans and two staff members; Cape Girardeau Veterans Home, 57 veterans and 12 staff members; St. James Veterans Home, 24 veterans and nine staff members; St. Louis Veterans Home, two staff members and Warrensburg Veterans Home, 12 veterans and four staff members. The Mexico Veterans Home reported having no cases among veterans or staff.
The press release also stated seven veterans living in the Mt. Vernon Veterans Home died in September. Other Veterans Homes which saw veterans die last month include: Cape Girardeau, 21 deaths; St. James, 10 deaths and Warrensburg, three deaths. According to the press release, it is not known if any of the deaths were caused by COVID-19.
The first positive case of COVID-19 at the Mt. Vernon Veterans Home was detected on Sept. 16. Governor Mike Parson, who later tested positive for COVID-19 (and has since been medically cleared to return to work), visited the Veterans Home on Sept. 15. In a statement, Kelli Jones, Gov. Parson’s communication director, said the governor’s visit had no connection to the outbreak, citing the MIT Medical Guide, which she said states, “We would definitely not expect a positive diagnostic test for COVID one day after exposure.”
“We do not believe there is any connection between Governor Parson’s COVID case and anyone at the Mt. Vernon Missouri Veterans Home,” Jones said. “Governor Parson visited the home on Sept. 15, and the first positive case in the home was identified on Sept. 16. According to CDC guidelines, no one at the facility was considered a close contact to Governor Parson. Social distancing was practiced, masks were worn, and Governor Parson was not around anyone longer than five to 10 minutes. The entire visit was brief, (and) the First Lady was not on the trip.”
“Governor Parson works hard to ensure our veterans are cared for and treated well, and he is saddened that any veteran is experiencing COVID. He hopes and prays each veteran gets well,” Jones said.
According to another press release published on Oct. 2, Parson has ordered a “rapid, independent, external review of all seven Missouri Veterans Homes to assess their performance to date and identify what steps, if any, should be taken to improve their management of COVID-19.” Parson has also ordered the deployment of the new Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests to the Missouri Veterans Homes for the immediate testing of all staff and residents.
In the press release, Parson called the “sudden positive case growth” among veterans and staff “unacceptable.”
“We are deeply saddened by the news of the deaths in four of our Missouri Veterans Homes,” Parson was quoted as saying in the press release. “As a veteran myself, I care a great deal about the quality of care our veterans receive at the Veterans Homes in our state and have raised an alarm bell more than once when I felt we as a state weren’t meeting the standard of care I believe they are owed.”
Access to the Missouri Veterans Homes has been restricted since the first positive COVID-19 case in Missouri was reported on March 7 of this year. To keep veterans socially engaged, family members were allowed to interact with veterans via no-contact window visits and FaceTime social media. In August, the Missouri Veterans Commission began outdoor visits between veterans and family members and loved ones as conditions permitted.