PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – The coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the Alexander Nininger State Veterans’ Nursing Home after a military veteran who lived at the home in Pembroke Pines died.
According to retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. R. Steven Murray, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, said the nursing home is the only VA long-term housing facility with confirmed cases of COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.
Recommended Videos
The home has 120 community beds, 56 rooms with two beds and eight private rooms. As of Wednesday night, there were nine military veterans who tested positive for COVID-19. One of the nine died.
“All were tested and diagnosed following hospitalization over the past several days -- in one case, several weeks,” Murray said in a statement. “We continue to monitor their progress and are in communications with their doctors and families.”
The department is investigating if there are more people infected. Murray said 41 tests were administered to residents and staff members, and another 50 tests will be administered this week.
“The initial tests were conducted of residents and staff near where the residents who tested positive were residing,” Murray said.
The department contracted a company to perform continual cleaning and face masks are now required for everyone at the home. Murray also said there weren’t any shortages of personal protective equipment at the nursing home.
“If there’s a resident displaying symptoms, the staff dons a higher level of PPE, including N95 mask, face shield, and protective gown,” Murray said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Broward County had 2,358 cases confirmed and 32 of them were in Pembroke Pines, according to the Florida Department of Health. COVID-19 has been the cause of death for 58 people in Broward.