LASALLE, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Governor JB Pritzker suggested a COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans Home that killed seven and left more than 140 others infected can be traced to people not following mitigation guidelines.
The outbreak in LaSalle involves an equal number of residents and staff: 72 and 72, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, all infected in less than two weeks. That’s an increase of 84 cases since Nov. 6, IDPH said.
Governor Pritzker said no matter what you do, there is going to be a level of risk, especially older people. He said not following guidelines is not helping.
"I want to remind everybody how deadly this virus is. It hasn't abated, it hasn't changed, it's out there. No matter what we do, there is a level of risk," Pritzker said. "And it is especially risky, frankly, for those who are seniors, people who are over 60; as the age goes up, so does the risk."
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Pritzker said veterans' homes across the state have done an outstanding job keeping veterans safe during the pandemic under tough conditions.
"You can't 100 percent keep everyone safe in this environment, especially when our communities, our mayors, our city councils, our county boards and county chairs aren't living up to the mitigations, they are not following or enforcing mitigations in many parts of the state."
State representatives on the Veterans Affairs Committee are asking for an investigation. The facility's director said they are following protocols, but the lawmakers want to know if that is true, why are there so many cases?