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RESERVE – Seven residents of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home in Reserve have died since a cluster of COVID-19 cases were discovered at the home.

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed Thursday evening that 18 residents of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home in Reserve have tested positive for COVID-19 either in the facility or at the hospital. Of those residents, six have passed away. Officials recently received word that one additional resident received a positive COVID-19 test result after his or her death. This brings the number of residents who have passed away and have a known COVID-19 positive test result to seven.

Staff at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home made contact with the residents’ families on Thursday.

“We continue to follow the recommended CDC and Louisiana Office of Public Health protocols in caring for each of our veterans at all five of our state-run veteran homes,” a Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson said.