Springfiled, Ill. (AP) — A state audit finds that lack of preparation and follow-through by the Illinois Departments of Veterans Affairs and Public Health are to blame for a November 2020 COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans Home that killed 36 people.
Auditor General Frank Mautino released the review Thursday. It said that public health officials offered no assistance and testing and other action was sluggish, including a site visit by health officials that didn’t occur until weeks into the outbreak.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, blamed Republicans who opposed safety precautions such as face coverings. He said they encouraged non-compliant visitors who unwittingly carried the virus into LaSalle.
