CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo (WSIL) -- Dozens of those who fought for our country are now having to fight for their own lives, battling COVID-19 inside veterans' homes.
Cape Girardeau Veterans Home currently has 57 veterans and 12 staff members with active cases of COVID-19. The home had 21 residents die in the month of September, although the state said the number of those deaths that were caused by COVID-19 is not known at this time.
A community member tells News 3 her former neighbor was one of those who passed away. His wife told Linda Jones he contracted COVID-19 and then died a week ago.
"His wife called me to tell me that he had passed away from COVID. And, I just thought it was poor that a government place like should be up to par. And she says it's not. She says they don't pay attention to most of the rules. So, it's just kind of sad," said Jones.
On Wednesday, the Missouri Veterans Commission reported that until September, there had been only one death of a resident while there was a known case of COVID-19. That was at the Saint Louis Home back in April.
Five of seven Missouri veterans homes have active cases among residents, and all but one have active cases among staff members. Over the last four months, the commission said more than 21,000 tests have been conducted, and access to visitors, vendors and volunteers was immediately restricted at all state veterans homes following their first reported case on March 7.
The commission says it has facilitated various safe ways to help veterans keep socially engaged with their family and loved ones ever since.
