COVID-19 and Our State Veterans Homes

During the past few weeks, we have good news and bad news with regard to COVID-19 in our State Veterans Homes.

The good news is that we have had a total of 67 recoveries statewide – 32 at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home (SNSVH) and 35 at the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home (NNSVH). 

The bad news, we are very sad to report, is that four residents of the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home who tested positive for COVID-19 passed away during the past month. The first resident was an 89-year old, Korean War Navy veteran, who was under end-of-life care prior to contracting COVID-19. He was transferred to the Reno VA Hospital’s COVID unit, which offered an expanded level-of-care to all NNSVH residents who tested positive for COVID-19 in early July. The second resident was a 90-year-old Navy veteran who died at the Reno VA hospital from cardiopulmonary arrest as a consequence of COVID-19.  The third resident was the 95-year-old, widowed spouse of a Korean War Navy veteran who was receiving care at Renown Hospital. A 71-year-old Army Vietnam veteran, with underlying medical conditions, died at the Reno VA hospital as a consequence of COVID-19.   

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of these veterans and spouse. These much-loved residents were fighters,” said Nevada Department of Veterans Services Director Kat Miller of the veterans who passed away.  “Unfortunately, the disease along with their underlying medical conditions, proved to be more than they could overcome.  We remain resolute in our continuing effort to find and implement emerging medical practices to mitigate the impacts of this terrible disease. Our hearts go out to their families and friends.”  

All NNSVH residents and staff members have recovered.  At the SNSVH, one resident and five staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Both homes are testing all residents and staff weekly. All residents who tested positive are in isolation and the staff members are self-quarantined at home.  All those who tested positive must have two consecutive negative test results before they may transition back from the isolation unit or return to work.   

The State Veterans Homes are working with multiple local, state and federal partners, including the Nevada Office of Public Health Informatics and Epidemiology to support contact tracing necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus.  

COVID-19 phone lines at both homes provide the latest information:  SNSVH (702) 332-6705 and NNSVH (775) 418-5026. 

For more information and resources on Nevada’s response to COVID-19, please visit: http://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov.