Sen. Sue Rezin said she wants to ensure quicker and better responses in future virus outbreaks at state homes for veterans after what she called a “failure” to protect residents
SPRINGFIELD â Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday that Illinois will enter the âbridgeâ phase to full reopening on Friday, May 14. And barring any reversal of current trends, Phase 5, or full reopening, will begin June 11.
He also announced that residents can now obtain COVID-19 vaccines from their physiciansâ offices, rather than just designated vaccine sites, as public health officials continue to confront hesitancy within many communities to accept the vaccines.
Thursdayâs announcement came as the state reached a new benchmark of having 55% of adults age 16 and over, and 80% of people age 65 and over, having received at least one dose of vaccine, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, the daily number of new cases, hospitalization rates and intensive care unit usage have all been falling or leveling off.
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The family of a Korean War veteran who died during a coronavirus outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans Home has filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois, saying that their loved one would not have died if the home had taken proper procedures during the pandemic.
Richard Cieski Sr. was a Korean War veteran who lived at the LaSalle facility. He died 15 days after a coronavirus outbreak began to sweep through the home, and his family believes that if proper protocols had been followed, he’d still be alive. Don t miss local breaking news and weather! Download our mobile app for iOS or Android
Report: Widespread failures at LaSalle Vets Home
SARAH MANSUR
Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD A state watchdog report into the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home found multiple failures that contributed to 36 veterans deaths, stemming primarily from the home’s complete lack of infection prevention plans or policies.
The report also found deficiencies in communication and staff training at the LaSalle home, as well as repeated lack of compliance with personal protective equipment protocols.
The LaSalle home, one of four state-run veterans homes, had no documented COVID-19 specific policies or outbreak plan, despite the well-known risks of coronavirus transmission in places like long-term care facilities, according to the report from the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General.
A state watchdog report into the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home found multiple failures that contributed to 36 veterans deaths, stemming primarily from the home’s complete lack of infection prevention plans or policies.
The report also found deficiencies in communication and staff training at the LaSalle home, as well as repeated lack of compliance with personal protective equipment protocols.
The LaSalle home, one of four state-run veterans homes, had no documented COVID-19 specific policies or outbreak plan, despite the well-known risks of coronavirus transmission in places like long-term care facilities, according to the report from the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General.