Another veteran has died of COVID-19, VA tracking more than 100 cases

Photo credit CDC, VA

By Abbie Bennett, Connecting Vets

A second veteran has died of Covid-19 as the number of total veterans testing positive reaches more than 100, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The first veteran to die of the coronavirus was a man in his 70s in Portland, Ore. The man had underlying health conditions and died due to complications caused by the virus, according to VA.

VA officials have yet to release more information on the second veteran death, saying only that he or she was located in White River Junction, Vt.

As of March 20, VA said it was tracking at least 130 cases of veterans testing positive for the virus and had administered "over 1,192 tests nationwide."

The veterans who have tested positive so far are in:

Ann Arbor, Mich. (1)
Arizona (1)
Atlanta (8)
Bay Pines, Fla. (1)
Birmingham, Ala. (1)
Bronx, N.Y. (2)
Chicago (1)
Cleveland, Ohio (2)
Columbia, Mo. (1)
Columbia, S.C. (1)
Dayton, Ohio (1)
Denver (4)
Detroit (1)
Fayetteville, N.C. (1)
Fresno, Calif. (1)
Hudson Valley, N.Y. (5)
Kansas City (1)
Lebanon, Ore. (1)
Long Beach, Calif. (2)
Madison, Wisc. (1)
Miami (1)
Milwaukee (3)
New Jersey (2)
New York Harbor (9)
New Orleans (42)
Orlando (3)
Palo Alto, Calif. (2)
Portland, Ore. (4, including 1 death)
Puget Sound, Wash. (9)
San Diego, Calif. (3)
San Juan, Puerto Rico (1)
Sioux Falls, N.D. (2)
Southern Nevada (1)
Togus, Maine (2)
Tomah, Wisc. (1)
Washington, D.C. (2)
West Palm Beach, Fla. (1)
White River Junction, Vt. (2, including 1 death)

Any veteran with symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath or cough should immediately contact their local VA. VA is asking veterans to call before visiting.

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

When veterans arrive at VA facilities, all patients will be screened for flu-like symptoms before they enter the hospital or clinic to protect other patients and staff, VA said.

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