"Tut" Fann Veterans' Home Coronavirus Cases

"Tut" Fann Veterans' Home Coronavirus Cases, Employee claims they're breaking CDC Guidelines

In at waaytv.com.

>> dan shaffer: at the state veteran's home today we learned more about what's going on inside.

We discovered new information after our story last night when a family told us their loved one tested positive for the virus before passing away.

The state won't confirm any deaths but admits more than two dozen active cases at the home.

Waay 31's sydney martin is live outside the veteran's home after talking to an employee about what it's like i side.

>> dan, shortly after my story aired last night i was contacted by a fan employee who told me the number of people dying and what's going on inside of this home is far different than what the state is 28thing us.

Now, the person provided me with two forms of proof of employment here but they wanted to stay anonymous out of fear they could lose their job.

>> it is spreading throughout the building like the water is running through the roof like wildfire.

>> he told me the reality is very different from what the state reports.

This person wants families and the community to know the truth.

>> my understanding, there's been two deaths of employees and six residents.

>> the alabama department of veterans affairs office said there were zero confirmed coronavirus deaths at the home but they would not report a death until it's confirmed by the alabama department of public health.

That process could take more than two weeks from the time the death was reported.

The employee also claimed they are ignoring cdc guidelines and alabama's department of public health regulations.

>> the employee tested positive.

She had worked with few other employees.

They got tested but they were still working.

>> the staff member explained the quarantine eaf is the only way to reach some of the residents in the home, raising concerns about exposure.

>> people that are not on the quarantine area have to walk through there with no other choice.

There should be an alternate route.

>> the employee shared this message to the state's veterans affairs office.

>> this is awful.

Those people are somebody's husband, wife, mother, brother, other people.

They ought to tell them the truth.

>> now, i reached out to the state va around 1111:30 morning this morning and around 3:00.

A little bit more than an hour later, at 4:00, a spokesperson told me an outside group runs day-to-day operations of tut fann with someone with hmr veteran services would answer my questions.

I haven't heard back yet from that company.

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