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Galesburg nursing home fined $25K after COVID-19 outbreak

Allure of Galesburg, 1145 Frank St., was fined $25,000 by the Illinois Department of Public Health for violations that led to an outbreak of COVID-19.
Jane Carlson
/
Tri States Public Radio
Allure of Galesburg, 1145 Frank St., was fined $25,000 by the Illinois Department of Public Health for violations that led to an outbreak of COVID-19.

A COVID-19 outbreak at a Galesburg nursing home infected 79 residents as well as many staff, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

IDPH visited Allure of Galesburg, 1145 Frank St., in January to observe operations, interview staff, and review records related to the outbreak.

The investigation determined the facility failed to ensure staff wore adequate PPE, failed to place COVID-positive residents in a dedicated unit with dedicated staff, and failed to follow transmission-based guidelines.

Those failures resulted in the widespread COVID-19 outbreak and with two residents being hospitalized, according to an IDPH report.

The local health department told investigators there were discrepancies with the Allure of Galesburg’s COVID-19 reporting.

The health department also said the facility did not contact them for guidance during the outbreak.

In addition, the report details how the facility failed to follow-up on staff and resident COVID-19 lab results within 48 hours once an outbreak was detected, and did not implement alternative testing methods.

That led to COVID-positive staff working directly with residents, and COVID-positive residents not being properly isolated – and put all residents at risk, according to investigators.

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

Jane Carlson is TSPR's regional reporter.