107°F
weather icon Clear

Southern Nevada VA hospital reports 15 COVID-19 cases among staff

Updated April 9, 2020 - 12:15 pm

A total of 15 employees at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-March, according to a news release from the agency.

None of the employees is currently hospitalized and some are in the process of being cleared to return to work, the statement said. Investigations into the cases have shown that many of them were contracted from the community rather than through direct patient care, according to the statement.

“We identified these cases due to our employee health practices at the rigid screening protocols we currently have in place and we continue to screen everyone and take temperatures at all our facilities,” the statement said. “We also have the best medical facility screening procedures in Southern Nevada, which includes screening at the vehicle entrances of our medical center and temperature screenings at all our sites of care.”

The VA said all employees who tested positive were immediately isolated. Two of the employees were hospitalized but have since been released, the statement said.

Contact Alexis Egeland at aegeland@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0335. Follow @alexis_egeland on Twitter.

THE LATEST
Video shows 2 murder suspects at crime scene, police say

Las Vegas police say the suspects admit they were at the scene of the crime in the southeast valley, but they deny killing a man and a woman found dead there.

Nevada mine shutting down, laying off 117 workers

The mining company said it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection because it was unable to secure funding and cannot “continue carrying on business.”

Nevada getting $6M in Johnson & Johnson settlement

Attorney General Aaron Ford said Nevada will be receiving upwards of $6 million in the settlement relating to allegations of “deceptive trade practices.”