From the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System:
On March 27, two Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System employees at the Biloxi VA tested positive for COVID-19.
In accordance with CDC guidelines and the employees’ status, the individuals are currently in home isolation, mitigating further risk of transmission to other patients and staff.
The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System is in the process of identifying individuals that the two employees may have had contact with and notifying those individuals so they self-monitor. In addition, in order to maintain operations, the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System is identifying if the individual employees spent time with additional sub-groups so those employees can be monitored as well.
Due to privacy concerns, we cannot provide additional information.
VA is screening Veterans and staff who present with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath who meet the CDC criteria for evaluation of COVID-19 infection.
Per CDC guidance and VA protocols, patients and staff known to be at risk for a COVID-19 infection are immediately isolated to prevent potential spread to others.
Veterans and staff are encouraged to take everyday preventive actions to avoid being exposed to the virus:
– Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
– Stay home if you are sick or becoming sick.
– Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
– If you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with symptoms, call the VA before going to the facility.
Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System is committed to providing high-quality care while keeping Veterans and employees safe from the COVID-19. Due to COVID-19 precautionary measures and out of concern for our Veterans and staff, we are honoring current social isolation and distancing guidelines, and seeing thousands of Veterans virtually every day. Through VA’s virtual care tools, the facility is leveraging available technology to make sure that our patients continue to receive needed health care.
On the move: The VA also announced Friday that a number of veterans being treated at the VA hospital in New Orleans will be moved to the Biloxi campus. Bruce Cummins, VA public affairs specialist, said veterans coming to Biloxi are “non COVID-19 patients.”
See more information for Veterans
See more about the Coronavirus
News & notes: Video updates, newsletter
Video updates: No video update is being done today by the City of Biloxi, but you can see the previous updates on the city’s YouTube page. To see the archive, which includes messages from Biloxi’s fire and police chiefs, click here.
Newsletter: All residents and businesses in Biloxi should have received the city’s latest monthly newsletter in their mailboxes or PO boxes Friday or today. You can read it online now by clicking here.
