Lethal outbreak hits Kentucky vets home

A stateowned longterm nursing care facility for veterans near Lexington, Ky., is in the grip of a lethal outbreak of the coronavirus.

Eighty-six veterans have tested positive for the virus at the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center since October, and 24 have died, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.

Among the staff, 63 have tested positive. Beshear said that the outbreak, the center’s first, was the result of community spread and that it began when three veterans and seven staff members tested positive last month. The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided medical staff to assist at the center.

The governor pleaded with Kentuckians to do what they could to limit the virus’ spread.

“This is the toughest spot we’ve been in thus far,” Beshear said. “You must do your part and folks, this is now to the point where you need to be wearing your mask simply to protect yourself. It will also help others around you, but if you are not wearing a mask, you are putting yourself at personal risk of this virus.”

Over the past week, the state has logged an average of 2,272 cases per day, an increase of 37% from the average two weeks earlier. As of Sunday, Kentucky has had 136,137 coronavirus cases and 1,658 deaths, according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University.

The spread of the virus within Thomson-Hood is the latest example of the vulnerabilities at veterans’ homes around the country. Eightyone have died of the coronavirus at a veterans center in Paramus, N. J., and at least 76 residents died of an outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Mass., leading to two former administrators being charged with criminal neglect.

“We are still battling,” a post on Thomson-Hood’s Facebook page said. “Keep praying for our incredible, warrior staff and our precious veterans.”