COVID-19 Positive Cases at the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center and the Virginia Veterans Care Center

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services is currently monitoring 15 active COVID-19 cases (eight residents, seven staff) at the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center (SBVCC) in Richmond and 36 active cases (28 residents, eight staff) at the Virginia Veterans Care Center (VVCC) in Roanoke.

The residents are on separate wings at the veterans care centers to isolate them from other residents, while the employees are at home in self-isolation and under the care of their personal health care provider (PHCP).

Residents, family members, and staff have been notified of the positive cases.

Measures currently in place to protect the health and safety of residents and staff include:

• The care centers are following Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guidelines about how to protect and care for residents and staff, including infection control procedures and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
• Each care center continues to have regular contact with their local VDH and VA representatives regarding PPE use, infection control, and resident care. The care centers regularly review their policies and procedures, and update them according to the latest VDH, CDC, CMS, and VA guidelines;
• VDH representatives conducted in-person reviews at SBVCC on Sept. 29 and at VVCC on Sept. 30. In-person reviews will continue as appropriate to help ensure the health and safety of care center residents and staff.  The VDH Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC) also conducted an on-site COVID-19 infection control survey at SBVCC on Sept. 30 to review current practices, policies and procedures;
• All staff who enter a resident room wear masks. If a resident’s condition warrants additional PPE, staff wear gloves, gowns, goggles, and face shields per VDH and CDC protocols;
• Residents are screened three times a day (temperature and vitals). Any resident with an elevated temperature or showing other potential signs of COVID-19 exposure is immediately isolated. A COVID-19 test is performed at the direction of the care center medical director;
• Facility-wide testing is done in accordance with CMS regulations, with the frequency of testing based on the positivity rate of the local community. Currently, SBVCC is testing at least once per week and VVCC twice per week;
• The interior portions of care centers are closed to all visitors. The only exception is for family members to visit a resident in an end-of-life stage, with prior coordination;
• All persons entering the care centers are screened (temperature taken) and asked about potential COVID-19 exposure and if they have experienced any symptoms in the past 24 hours. Persons with an elevated temperature, potential exposure, or symptoms compatible with COVID-19 are denied entry;
• Staff who are sick or exhibiting symptoms compatible with COVID-19 are directed to stay home and contact their personal health care provider; and
• Residents who have been admitted to a hospital must have a negative COVID-19 result that is less than 24 hours old, and must not have been tested or treated on any dedicated COVID-19 wing or isolation unit of the hospital prior to readmission to VVCC or SBVCC.

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) operates the Sitter & Barfoot and Virginia Veterans Care Centers. As of October 2, 2020 SBVCC provides care for 177 residents; 340 staff members care for them.  VVCC provides care for 185 residents; 310 staff members care for them.

Questions may be directed to VDVS Communications Director Tina Parlett-Calhoun at: tina.parlett-calhoun@dvs.virginia.gov or 804-371-0441.