Gulf Coast VA has 6 COVID-19 cases, internal memo says. Three are Biloxi employees.
Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System has reported six positive cases of COVID-19, Director Bryan Matthews said in a letter to employees obtained by the Sun Herald.
Three of the cases are employees at the Biloxi VA Medical Center, and one is a veteran who has died.
Here are the six positive cases:
- One is a veteran being treated at GCVHCS
- One is a veteran who died
- Three are Biloxi VA Medical Center employees
- One is a patient at the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Mobile, Alabama
There was no location given for the first two cases. However, the Veterans Administration lists on its website the number of cases at facilities in each city.
On Monday, it listed Biloxi as having one inpatient case. Mobile was not listed, and New Orleans has 44 inpatient cases and 337 outpatient cases positive for the coronavirus. There are 3 outpatient cases in Jackson, Mississippi.
The Biloxi VA reported two of the staff cases on March 27.
The Sun Herald also confirmed in March that “non COVID-19 patients” from the New Orleans VA hospital were transported to the Biloxi hospital.
Those who have tested positive are in isolation to prevent further spreading, Matthews said.
Bruce Cummings, VA public affairs specialist, sent the Sun Herald the following statement:
“To date, four Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System employees have tested positive for COVID-19 — three at Biloxi VA Medical Center and one at Mobile VA Outpatient Clinic. In accordance with CDC guidelines and the employees’ status, the individuals are currently in home isolation, mitigating further risk of transmission to other patients and staff. Due to privacy concerns, we cannot provide additional information.”
The Sun Herald also asked about the location of the veteran being treated at GVHCS and the veteran who died, but has received a response.
The VA is screening patients and staff that show symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, coughing who meet the CDC criteria for evaluation, Matthews said in the statement.
There have been 2,699 cases and 103 deaths at all VA facilities across the country.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 1:34 PM.