VA Daily Covid Admissions Reaches All Time High

​Among individual health care centers, Orlando tops the case count, at 11,647 — 3,567 more than on Nov. 30. It also has the highest number of active cases: 1,722, an increase of 1,683 from 50 days ago. Bay Pines, Florida, has the second-highest number of active cases, with 1,707 (an increase of 1,658). The health care center in Long Beach, California, is third in active cases, at 1,296 (1,267 more).​

Mask policy in VA facilities

The VA is following advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that says everyone should wear a mask indoors in parts of the country with substantial or high levels of virus transmission. This includes people who are fully vaccinated.

Mask policies at different VA locations:

• VA health care facilities: Anyone who enters hospitals, clinics or Vet Centers must wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose. Staff will instruct fully vaccinated people on whether it’s safe to remove their mask during a visit.
• Indoors at other VA locations: Visitors will be asked to wear a mask in locations where there is a substantial or high level of transmission. VA staff will explain each location’s policy upon arrival. You may check your county’s level of coronavirus infections here.
• Outdoors at VA national cemetery: Only those who are not fully vaccinated are asked to wear a cloth mask and follow distancing guidelines.

For other frequently asked questions, visit the VA’s coronavirus FAQ page.

Increased screening at VA med centers

VA medical centers across the country are taking precautions to screen patients, staff and visitors. Veterans with coronavirus symptoms are asked to call their health care facility to report them; these clients may be directed to use telehealth so they won’t have to leave home.

Veterans who have appointments for other needs are advised to come early to allow time for screening. Everyone is being screened for signs of respiratory illness and coronavirus exposure.

To make an appointment, veterans should message their provider or call their local VA facility.  Certain appointments, such as mental health, can be made online through the VA’s appointment tool.

One example: The Connecticut VA Healthcare System is funneling those seeking access to two entrances on each VA campus. Screening questions include whether guests have a fever or flulike symptoms, where they’ve traveled in the past 14 days and whether they’ve had contact with anyone confirmed to have the coronavirus.

Visitation policies at VA nursing homes, spinal injury centers

The VA is allowing guests to visit some of its 134 nursing homes and 24 spinal cord injury centers, depending on local coronavirus restrictions.

Since last year no outsiders had been permitted to see residents except for “compassionate cases,” meaning those veterans in the last stages of life in hospice.

The VA created safety guidelines for admission to its nursing homes, referred to as community living centers (CLCs), to ensure that veterans are not positive for COVID-19. 

For admission to spinal cord injury and disorder centers, veterans should contact their nearest location to see if new patients are being accepted. All staff members are being screened daily and were among the first who will be vaccinated within the VA system.

Remote medical care is an option

VA clients with a cough, fever and shortness of breath should call the local VA medical center and select the option to speak to a nurse before visiting. They are also asked to consider using the VA’s telehealth and virtual care options so that they can be evaluated without leaving home.

“We need to do that to make sure that those who use VA are protected, that they are cared for,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie said at the American Legion Winter Conference. “We will get over this, and we will make sure everything is done to protect those who have done so much for our country.”

Editor's note: This story, originally published March 11, 2020, has been updated to reflect increased coronavirus cases and visitation policies within the VA system.