BOULDER CITY (KTNV) — Two residents at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home passed away this week of COVID-related complications.
An 88-year-old U.S. Air Force Korean War veteran and an 85-year-old U.S. Navy Vietnam War veteran were the two who passed. They had underlying conditions, according to Nevada's department of veteran services communications director.
“Two more veterans have fallen to this devastating disease and we offer our deepest condolences to their family and friends. The day when families can visit their loved ones again inside the state veterans homes is getting closer thanks to the vaccine,” said NDVS Director Kat Miller.
Wednesday, SNSVH residents and staff received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The second dose is scheduled for the third week of January.
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“We are incredibly relieved that we are now able to protect our residents and staff with the vaccine. This pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the state veterans homes residents, their families and the staff who have held it at bay for the past nine months,” said Nevada Department of Veterans Services Director Kat Miller. “This vaccine is more than a glimmer of hope – it marks an end to this long battle.”
The SNSVH says it continues to be supported in its efforts to combat the outbreak by infection control experts from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.
In surveys of the SNSVH over the past nine months, regulatory authorities have continued to observe that SNSVH staff are following all infection control protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
All staff who care for residents are tested for COVID-19 prior to every shift. If the rapid test result is positive, then the staff member is immediately sent home to self-quarantine and does not have any contact with residents or other staff. Residents are tested a minimum of twice a week, according to Nevada's department of veteran services communications director.
Family visits are being held outdoors in a designated area with a Plexiglas barrier. All visits are scheduled and are limited to 20 minutes to accommodate multiple families visiting.
Families can still request drive-thru visitations with residents and advised to call 702-332-6736 Monday through Friday to schedule.
