Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said she disapproves of the handling of a November COVID-19 outbreak at LaSalle Veterans' Home, leaving 27 dead and is under investigated by state officials, but is thankful for the director of the Department of Veterans Affairs testifying before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

“I appreciate director Chapa LaVia taking the time to testify before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, but I have grave concerns about some of the information we learned today," Rezin said in a statement released on her website.

The state has increased testing at the facility and an infection control team has been sent to the veterans' home, the Associated Press article said. So far, 40 of 101 residents, and 24 staff members, have tested positive for the coronavirus, the report said. The Associated Press also reports that while the veterans' home only had four cases on Nov. 4, and that number soared within 20 days.

Illinois has increased COVID-19 testing at the LaSalle Verterans' Home that left 27 dead | Pixabay

"The idea that COVID positive staff was allowed to continue working in the home is alarming and unacceptable," Rezin said. 

Rezin is also upset about how long it took Gov. J.B. Pritzker's (D) administration to perform an on-site visit at the home.

"The governor’s Department of Public Health waited 11 days to show up on-site, which caused significant delays in correcting infection control deficiencies leading to this fatal outbreak," Rezin said. "Additional legislative hearings must continue to get the full story of what happened."

"The tragedy of what has unfolded at the veterans’ home cannot be understated. I’m glad that the director has called for an independent investigation and agree that there are lessons to be learned from this terrible outbreak that has claimed the lives of 27 of our nation’s heroes," Rezin said in the statement. 

Illinios State officials are now investigating the deaths and the outbreak at the nursing home. 

“It is no coincidence that cases within the home began to rise just as cases rose dramatically within the surrounding community,” LaVia testified Tuesday at the hearing, the Associated Press reported.