Missouri Veterans Commission News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2020
JEFFERSON CITY – Today, the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) received notification that a veteran resident at the St. Louis Veterans Home tested positive for COVID-19, commonly known as novel coronavirus. This notification is the first identified COVID-19 case at one of MVC’s seven veteran homes. There are no reported COVID-19 cases among staff of the home at this time.
The veteran is currently being treated at a St. Louis area hospital, where the veteran was admitted this week. The veteran is doing well and remains under the hospital’s care. Due to privacy regulations, MVC is not permitted to release any additional information.
Upon the first COVID-19 case being reported in Missouri on March 7, 2020, MVC immediately restricted access to visitors, vendors, and volunteers at all state veterans home. MVC implemented extensive training and established infectious disease protocols as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which include twice daily temperature checks and contact interviews with all veterans home employees. MVC staff have also established separate quarantine and isolation areas within the home in the event we need to use them.
The Missouri Veterans Commission has been in close coordination with the local health department, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and Governor Parson’s administration.
The proper care of the veterans and our staff remain our number one priority.
MVC staff will continue to closely monitor for COVID-19 and make additional operational and preventive decisions as the situation evolves. Throughout the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, MVC staff will post public information updates on our website, https://mvc.dps.mo.gov/ .