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#DailyVAUpdate thread for APR8: 167 veterans have died total at @DeptVetAffairs. Up 23 from 144 yesterday. 2 in Chicago. 2 in Boston. 2 in Detroit. 3 in NJ. 6 in NY state. (graph by @LeoShane). You likely won't see this graph at the Trump press conference happening now...
Only 29,615 tests done so far by @DeptVetAffairs total —NATIONALLY. With a pathetic increase of only 1,340 tests nationally In the last 24 hours: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/n-coronavirus/?utm_source=VA%20Alert&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=Coronavirus&utm_content=link%20to%20VA%20Public%20Health%20page NY state does more than 10 times that number of tests daily now...
3,265 positive patient cases reported total in the @DeptVetAffairs system today. Up from 3,038 yesterday. 
So ~17% of the veterans tested by @DeptVetAffairs in the last 24 hours are #COVID19 positive?If that’s true—it’s BIG NEWS. Media should ask #PresidentMayhem about it...
So ~17% of the veterans tested by @DeptVetAffairs in the last 24 hours are #COVID19 positive?If that’s true—it’s BIG NEWS. Media should ask #PresidentMayhem about it...
. @DeptVetAffairs is now finally releasing data (questionable) on # of deaths & cases of VA employees. They report 7 deaths. 1,130 cases. One dead in: Ann Arbor, Detroit, Indy, Houston, 2 in Reno. 1 in Shreveport (according to @AFGENational): https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2020/04/08/seven-va-health-care-workers-dead-from-coronavirus-as-cases-mount via @LeoShane
And @AFGENational has now filed an OSHA complaint with the Dept of Labor, accusing @DeptVetAffairs of violating worker health and safety rights: "failing to take recommended actions" to prevent the spread of the #coronavirus.
https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/union-accuses-va-of-endangering-veterans-staff-amid-covid19 via @AbbieRBennett ...
https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/union-accuses-va-of-endangering-veterans-staff-amid-covid19 via @AbbieRBennett ...
“AFGE is also raising concerns about Veterans Crisis Line employees in Atlanta after management allegedly denied employees the ability to telework. ‘VA is not taking this crisis seriously, and they are putting employee lives in jeopardy.’ Marcia Blane, AFGE Local 518 president”
“On any given shift there are nearly 70 employees, without any personal protective equipment, working in cubicles less than six feet apart, and sharing a single, working elevator. How can the VA honestly believe they are protecting employees?” https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/union-accuses-va-of-endangering-veterans-staff-amid-covid19 ...
. @NationalNurses is sounding the alarm too: “Today we have VA registered nurses caring for as many as five intensive-care unit patients at once, and nurses caring for patients without access to clean gloves, gowns, and N95 masks,”: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2020/04/08/seven-va-health-care-workers-dead-from-coronavirus-as-cases-mount via @LeoShane ...
. @AFGENational is also sounding the alarm about @DeptVetAffairs employee exposure in Hampton, Virginia: “If they didn't have a shortage why require staff to wear PPE's up to 7 days.” https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/hampton/coronavirus-cases-continue-to-rise-at-hampton-va-union-president-speaks-out/291-8d509b84-0b51-42e6-b3ee-4a009c440dbd via @13NewsNow...
Complaints of staffing problems continue to pour in nationwide. @DeptVetAffairs has around 40,000 vacancies. They were called "severe" by GAO. But when confronted with the issue last month, VA @SecWilkie called the GAO report "silly": https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/wilkie-calls-report-on-va-vacancies-silly-amid-coronavirus via @AbbieRBennett
AND, new today: “VA has again delayed the launch of its $16 billion electronic health record system that was set to begin rolling out last month. This time, VA says it needs to delay because of the #COVID19 pandemic.” https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-delays-16b-electronic-health-record-launch-over-covid-19 via @abbie. But of course. ...
But despite all this controversy, concern & death, @SecWilkie is STILL not doing any regular public press conferences. Or town halls. In contrast to @DeptofDefense-which is doing a big one tomorrow w the #SecDeaf and CJCS: https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense/status/1247901306552909829 (they have a bit going on too)...
. @DeptVetAffairs @SecWilkie also hasn’t done a TV interview in forever. But he did do a soft-ball radio hit on @TomJordanNews in Detroit today though: https://twitter.com/TomJordanNews/status/1247963583792787458 Wilkie said VA has the gear they need—despite employees nationwide saying otherwise. #WhereIsWilkie?...
. @SecWilkie also did another softball radio hit w another conservative show: @77wabcradio's @bernieandsid. Wilkie was spinning about how much VA is loved & trusted under Trump, how big the VA budget is, other standard Wilkie 
s Trump talking points: https://twitter.com/bernieandsid/status/1247908203058335746 ...
s Trump talking points: https://twitter.com/bernieandsid/status/1247908203058335746 ...
And, it looks like despite being a member of the #COVID19 task force, @SecWilkie is again missing from the daily White House press briefing happening now. He's AWOL. Again. The question every member of the press, Congress and the American public should be asking: #WhereIsWilkie?
If led well and effectively utilized, @DeptVetAffairs (and @DeptofDefense) can be the cavalry for America in our war against #coronavirus. But right now, they're failing. And falling behind. For more detail, analysis and truth follow the good reporters I tagged in this thread....
And for more, also check out all our recent episodes of @angryamericans--and a powerful new pod we've got dropping tomorrow: http://www.GetAngry.us . If you're not angry, you're not paying attention. Especially now. #StayVigilant #StayFrosty 
