Battle Creek VA Medical Center cancels events for 30 days amid coronavirus concerns

As Veterans Affairs facilities across the nation screen patients and restrict visitors to stem the spread of coronavirus, the Battle Creek VA Medical Center announced Tuesday it was canceling events on campus for the next 30 days in light of concerns over COVID-19.

"While there still remain no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our area, as a precaution, we are cancelling events on the campus for the next 30 days," said a post on the Battle Creek VA Facebook page. "We will evaluate further as more information is available. These precautionary measures help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections and protect our vulnerable population who need to seek care."

A message seeking comment from the facility's public affairs office was not returned as of Tuesday afternoon.

The events canceled are the Women's Veteran Social on March 12; Recovery Film Festival on March 19; Spring Fling 2K Run/Walk on March 20; VCS Wyoming Town Hall on March 23; French Legion Award on March 24; Spring Pizza Party on March 28; Vietnam Veteran event on March 30; staff quarterly awards on April 9; and Caregiver Resource Fair on April 14.

VA Secretary Robert Wilkie told reporters at an American Legion conference in Washington on Tuesday that visitors are not allowed at the agency's roughly 135 nursing homes, which house more than 8,000 veterans, saying those facilities are "going into an emergency situation."

MORE:  VA reports 5 coronavirus cases

One veteran has a confirmed case of the virus, VA officials said. Four others have tested positive, but those findings have not yet been confirmed. The agency did not specify where the veterans are

There have not been any confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Michigan as of Tuesday.

For more information, contact the Battle Creek VA Medical Center 269-966-5600 or visit battlecreek.va.gov.