The Illinois Department of Public Health and the LaSalle Veterans Home are being blamed for the COVID-19 outbreak that claimed thirty-six lives. Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino says IDPH staff didn’t offer any advice or assistance as to how to slow the spread at the Home.
He says they didn’t provide additional rapid COVID-19 tests, and were unsure of the availability of the antibody treatments for long-term care settings. He also says the home also took too long to have its staff tested.
Mautino’s report says IDPH should clearly define its role in relation to monitoring COVID-19 outbreaks at Illinois Veterans’ Homes. He also says the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs test people in a timely fashion and has its Senior Home Administrator position filled and that the position includes monitoring COVID outbreaks.
You can find the full report here.