SPRINGFIELD — The director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs told a legislative panel this week that while state-run veterans homes have better policies in place following a COVID-19
Three months after an investigation into the COVID outbreak that killed 36 residents at the state-run veterans’ home in LaSalle found the facility’s management was “ineffective, reactive and…chaotic” responding to the virus’ spread, Republicans in the Illinois House are once again agitating for more information from Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration.
GOP members are also renewing their call for Attorney General Kwame Raoul to open a criminal probe into the fatal outbreak, which infected nearly all the residents at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home last fall, killing more than a quarter of the facility’s population, and spreading to more than 100 staff members.
Inspector General releases LaSalle COVID report
Former Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Linda Chapa LaVia “abdicated” her authority in managing the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans Home. That’s what witnesses told investigators with the Illinois Department of Human Services Inspector General.
The inspector’s 50-page report released Friday also outlined a lack of COVID policies that led to confusion and chaos. Thirty-six residents lost their lives in the outbreak. One family is suing for millions of dollars.
Pritzker looks to modify spending of VW settlement funds
The Pritzker administration Thursday said it’s set to spend $9 million in Volkswagen settlement money for electric school buses in more urban areas.
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Push to audit Pritzker’s handling of veterans home outbreak has bipartisan support by Greg Bishop, The Center Square | March 02, 2021 08:00 PM Print this article
While Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said there’s an ongoing inspector general investigation of the handling of the LaSalle Veterans’ Home COVID-19 outbreak, there’s bipartisan support for a separate investigation.
There is also legislation to require state public health officials to visit the site of a disease outbreak at a state-run facility as “soon as practical.”
Last fall, a COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home killed 36. The outbreak began Nov. 1, 2020, and quickly spread, sickening nearly everyone.