Illinois Public Health Director unclear on some details regarding LaSalle Vets Home COVID outbreak

From The Center Square – The director of the Illinois Department of Public Health can’t recall if she had talked with the former director of the Department of Veterans Affairs during the peak of the deadly LaSalle Veteran’s Home COVID-19 outbreak last fall.

On Nov. 1, 2020, it was clear there was a COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home, but IDPH was not on scene until ten days later. The outbreak led to 36 residents there dying and more than 200 people were sickened. Previous reports highlighted ineffective hand sanitizer, improper COVID-19 protocols and other issues.

During Friday’s hearing in a Senate committee, IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike told state Sen. Craig Wilcox, R-McHenry, she would regularly talk with then IDVA Director Linda Chapa LaVia before the outbreak to support and pray with each other.

Ezike couldn’t say if they talked during the peak of the outbreak at the LaSalle home that eventually killed 36 residents.

“Did you ever have any direct contact with the former director from Nov. 1 through Nov. 9,” Wilcox asked.

“Nov. 1 to Nov. 9, I don’t recall specific interaction during that time,” Ezike said.

Chapa LaVia, who Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he hired because of her inquiries as a state lawmaker into the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak at the Quincy Veterans’ home during the administration of Gov. Bruce Rauner, resigned in January following several hearings into last November’s COVID-19 outbreak.

Acting Illinois Department of Human Services Inspector General Peter Neumer acknowledged didn’t interview Chapa LaVia for their report released last month.