4 more test positive at OVH

PERKINS TWP. — There's an apparent coronavirus outbreak inside the Ohio Veterans Home. "On Thursday afternoon, May 14, our leadership at the Ohio Veterans Home received notification that four of our residents had tested positive for COVID-19," said Jeff Rapp, a spokesman with the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. The Register received a tip about additional positive tests — the first tracing back to home residents — late Thursday night and then sent an email to Rapp, who confirmed this information on Friday. It's possible even more residents could test positive, pending ongoing lab results. "All residents in our memory-care units were tested (Thursday) night, 78 total, including one other resident who also was showing symptoms," Rapp said. There are now five confirmed COVID-19 cases coming from the local Ohio Veterans Home: these four and an administrative employee. "That person has been recovering in self-quarantine ever since," Rapp said. "Each of the four residents who have tested positive have been moved to our 40-bed enhanced care unit, are receiving around-the-clock care there from our medical and nursing staff and are in stable condition." Rapp added nobody contracting COVID-19 from the home has died. Preparing for the possibility About two months ago, when this pandemic began threatening the well-being of area residents, state officials instituted many new precautions at both Ohio Veterans Home sites: in Erie County and one by Cincinnati. Some measures include banning visitors, mandating all employees wear masks and screening anyone who shows coronavirus-like symptoms to limit any potential spread of disease. "We have been prepared for this possibility for months, reshaping our facility to accommodate residents who may need to be isolated," Rapp said. Rapp credited the many local partners in this process dedicated to preserving veterans' health. "Upon learning of these results, OVH engaged Firelands Regional Medical Center and the Erie County Health Department to implement a broader testing program inside the facility," Rapp said. Passing the test In April, the Register published a news story focusing on the lack of testing at the Ohio Veterans Home, which is Erie County's largest nursing home. It seems officials, with cooperation from community partners, have since addressed the shortcoming. "The support from each has been incredible," Rapp said. "Firelands immediately provided us the ability to implement a testing process on Thursday evening that will continue until all residents and staff members have had the opportunity to be tested. The Erie County Health Department arranged for blocks of hotel rooms for our staff members who wanted them." Due to the nature of congregate living environments, "Nursing homes are particularly vulnerable to the spread of any virus," Rapp said. "Nevertheless, we continue to strictly adhere to CDC and Ohio Department of Health guidelines to keep COVID-19 contained and prevent it from spreading to our hundreds of veterans and staff members." At the Erie County location, there's about 525 residents and 550 staff members. "Our leadership is working tirelessly to protect everyone at the Ohio Veterans Home, and we remain resolved to do so," Rapp said.