Public Health

Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

See here for the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus information.

What is VA doing?

VA has implemented an aggressive public health response to protect and care for Veterans in the face of this emerging health risk. We are working directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners to monitor the outbreak of the virus.

VA has administered over 100 COVID-19 tests nationwide while taking aggressive steps to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

These measures include outreach to Veterans and staff, clinical screening at VA health care facilities, and protective procedures for patients admitted to community living centers and spinal cord injury units.

What should Veterans do?

Any Veteran with symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should immediately contact their local VA facility. VA urges Veterans to call before visiting – you can find contact information for your closest VA facility.

Alternatively, Veterans can sign into MyHealtheVet to send a secure message to VA or use telehealth options to explain their condition and receive a prompt diagnosis.

Upon arriving at VA, all patients will be screened for flu-like symptoms before they enter in order to protect other patients and staff. A VA health care professional will assist you with next steps once this screening process is complete.

At this time, VA is urging all visitors who do not feel well to please postpone their visits to VA facilities.

How to protect yourself

Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent the COVID-19 infection and no medication to treat it. CDC believes symptoms appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. Avoid exposure and avoid exposing others to an infection with these simple steps.

• Learn to use VA Video Connect through the VA mobile app store or by contacting your VA care team, before any urgent problems arise.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An easy way to mark the time is to hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice while scrubbing.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick or becoming sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue (not your hands) and throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Getting a flu shot is recommended.

VA COVID-19 Cases

Nationally, as of March 15, 2020, VA is tracking the following Veteran patients with either a CDC confirmed or a locally, presumptively confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. This is a rapidly evolving situation and VA will provide updated information as it becomes available and verified.

• 1 Palo Alto – VA Inpatient
• 1 Southern Nevada – VA Inpatient
• 1 Denver – home quarantine
• 1 Togus – home quarantine

• 2 NOLA – VA Inpatient
• 1 Denver – VA Inpatient
• 1 Portland – 1 community hospital
• 5 Puget Sound – 2 home quarantine, 3 VA Inpatient
• 2 Atlanta – 2 home quarantine
• 1 Fresno – home quarantine
• 2 Sioux Falls – 2 home quarantine
• 1 San Francisco – home quarantine
• 2 Bronx – 2 home quarantine
• 1 Tucson – VA Inpatient
• 1 White River Junction – VA Inpatient
• 1 Cleveland – VA Inpatient
• 1 Hudson Valley – VA Inpatient

Deaths: 1 (up 1 from yesterday)

The one death being reported today includes:

A Veteran patient in their 70s who died March 14 at VA Portland Health Care System due to complications from Coronavirus (COVID-19). This case was previously reported as a presumptive positive in an earlier case count.

For more information

More can be learned through the following CDC sites, about:

• Status of outbreak*
• Frequently Asked Questions*
• Information for Travelers*

* Links with an asterisk (*) next to them will take you outside the VA website. VA is not responsible for the content of the linked site.

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