Two Lovell Staffers, One Veteran Test Positive For Coronavirus

NORTH CHICAGO, IL — Two Lovell Federal Health Care Center staff members tested positive for the new coronavirus over the weekend, and a veteran treated at the center's North Chicago hospital tested positive for the virus last week, officials announced.

Test results released Friday showed a patient who received treatment at Lovell's emergency room tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus strain that first emerged in China last year, according to a statement from the integrated Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense health care facility.

"The risk of transmission to other patients and staff remains low, as the facility was able to discharge the patient home based on clinical status with instructions for home isolation and self-care in accordance [with] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines," it said.

On Saturday, an active duty member of the Navy who works at a clinic at the Navy's Recruit Training Command at Naval Station Great Lakes tested positive, according to a release from the Navy.

On Sunday, a civilian staff member working at Lovell's North Chicago hospital tested positive, it said.

According to a spokesperson for the health center, the hospital staffer had "no direct staff or patient contact."

Both staff members were also in voluntary home isolation to reduce any further risk of transmitting the virus to patients or staff.

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Beginning last week, Lovell staff started screening patients and staff with symptoms of the new coronavirus — fever, cough and shortness of breath — who meet the CDC criteria for evaluating COVID-19 infection, according to the Navy's release.

The center has limited visitor access and imposed other restrictions to encourage social distancing in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus.

"My priority is to ensure all of our staff and patients are protected from exposure and potential spread of this new virus," Dr. Robert Buckley, Lovell FHCC director, said in a release.

Patients at the center include veterans, military retirees, active duty military, reservists and military family members in the area of Naval Station Great Lakes.

Lovell also operates community-based outpatient clinics in McHenry, Evanston and Kenosha, Wisconsin, and provides health care for the Navy's Recruit Training Command boot camp at the adjacent Naval Station Great Lakes.

On Friday, the Navy elevated its health protection measures to HPCON C, the second-most severe condition, short of a full quarantine.

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