COVID outbreak contained at Ohio Veterans Home

PERKINS TWP. — State leaders overseeing a locally based nursing home facility believe they've contained a COVID outbreak originating late last week. On Friday, at the Ohio Veterans Home, a spokesman confirmed 15 residents/veterans along with four staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Most displayed mild symptoms, "But several who have underlying medical conditions are more seriously impacted," said Jeff Rapp, a spokesman with the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. During this period, the home still allowed visitors. Those entering its enhanced care unit, where veterans testing positive and feeling sick are moved and isolated, needed to wear personal protective equipment. Fast-forward to Monday, and the situation has gotten much better. "Several residents are showing improvement to the level where we expect them to be medically cleared as soon as Monday, which will allow them to leave our enhanced care units and return to their normal home units (on Tuesday)," Rapp said. "Many others who are currently COVID-positive also continue to improve," Rapp said. "Bottom line is we feel the measures that were put in place to deal with the situation appear to be working," he added. "So far, the numbers appear to be under control but, of course, we'll continue to pay attention. Symptoms generally have been very mild, but, given the population we are dealing with, we continue to take this very seriously."