VA confident it is ready for spread of coronavirus as infections hit US

Veterans Health Administration Executive in Charge Dr. Richard Stone, left, talks with VA Under Secretary for Benefits Dr. Paul Lawrence before a House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Feb. 27, 2020. JOE GROMELSKI/STARS AND STRIPES
Veterans Health Administration Executive in Charge Dr. Richard Stone, left, talks with VA Under Secretary for Benefits Dr. Paul Lawrence before a House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Feb. 27, 2020. JOE GROMELSKI/STARS AND STRIPES

VA confident it is ready for spread of coronavirus as infections hit US

by Steve Beynon
Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON — Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie on Thursday tried to ease fears about the potential spread of coronavirus, telling House lawmakers that the agency tasked with caring for more than 9 million troops and veterans is confident it’s prepared to handle an outbreak.

“We are testing our processes. We are making sure our supply chain is full,” Wilkie said when asked about coronavirus preparations by Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., during a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing. “We don’t need any extra money now.”

However, another department official said the agency would struggle if an outbreak got out of control and then they might need more resources.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/1.620540

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