Eight residents at a state-run veterans home have died from complications of COVID-19 and 56 other veterans in the home tested positive for the virus as testing has ramped up at the three homes run by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, the agency said Thursday.

Testing confirmed that 64 residents at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City tested positive for COVID-19, including eight who died from complications attributed to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to the department.

Another 23 employees at the Alexander City tested positive for COVID-19. All residents were tested for the virus as of Saturday.

“For several weeks, we have advocated for more testing at the state veterans homes, but test kits have been limited. Now that we’re able to increase testing, this significantly improves our capability to contain and reduce the risk of the virus from spreading,” said ADVA Commissioner Kent Davis.

No cases have been reported among residents at the other three state-run veterans homes in Huntsville, Pell City and Bay Minette. Three employees tested positive for COVID-19 at the Bay Minette facility and tests are continuing at the three homes. In all, 700 veterans live in the four homes.

The new testing figures comes a week after the agency deployed a specialized national guard unit known as Task Force 31 to the Alexander City home to disinfect the facility. The unit is expected to provide follow-on support to the other three homes.

The department previously restricted visitors from entering the four veterans homes on March 12 and only staff, necessary medical personal and immediate family of residents facing end-of-life situations have been allowed entry.

Residents who test positive are moved to isolation areas inside the homes for care and treatment. Employees who show symptoms of COVID-19 are prohibited from entering the homes.

“Our department and HMR continue to work closely with the Alabama Department of Public Health, CDC, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, on all reported positive cases,” said Davis.