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#DailyVAUpdate for APR15. Deaths at @DeptVetAffairs have now increased 5X since April 1.272 veterans at VA are reported dead of #COVID19 (up 15 from yesterday) https://www.publichealth.va.gov/n-coronavirus/ 8 of 15 in NY & NJ. Most were in the 80s & 90s. 2 were in their 50s. (Graphic: @LeoShane)..
Only 39,529 tests done nationwide by @DeptVetAffairs—NATIONALLY. TOTAL. A pathetic increase of only 2,168 tests since yesterday. New York tested 26,869 in the SAME SINGLE DAY. As I shared on @Maddow last night, this is the single most concerning part of the daily VA reporting...
4,468 @DeptVetAffairs vet patients have now tested positive. Detroit, Denver, Indianapolis, West Haven (CT), Northport (NY), Montrose (NY), Washington, DC have all hit 100 cases. Brooklyn now at almost 300. The Bronx is over 300. New Orleans has 430. https://www.publichealth.va.gov/n-coronavirus/ ...
State veterans nursing homes continue to get pounded. More than 16 states are now reporting outbreaks: https://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/coronavirus-has-now-hit-veterans-homes-in-16-states-1.626187 “Nobody saw the enormity of this” There are likely many more happening/coming. via @nikkiwentling ...
At least 13 @DeptVetAffairs employees have died. (that we know of). 1,530 VA employees have reportedly tested positive. But we really can’t trust the VA numbers. At all: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/04/14/internal-memos-call-into-question-vas-still-rising-coronavirus-count/ via @LeoShane at @MilitaryTimes ...
But @DeptVetAffairs says there’s plenty of PPE for VA staff! Even though VA staff nationwide--and VA’s own internal memos--say otherwise: https://www.wsj.com/articles/veterans-affairs-hospitals-will-give-masks-only-to-some-employees-memos-show-11586628576?mod=hp_lead_pos3 via @bkesling #NothingToSeeHere ...
And as part of the agency's "fourth mission", @DeptVetAffairs is now caring for 135 NON-VETERANS in New York, New Jersey, Michigan & New Mexico: https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-expands-coronavirus-help-to-more-non-veterans This is why VA’s #COVID19 problems are YOUR #COVID19 problems—no matter who are you are. via @AbbieRBennett ...
In things that make you go hmmm: @DeptVetAffairs is now partnering with Facebook to give out 7,400 video calling devices called "Portals." They normally retail for about $129: https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/va-facebook-give-veterans-video-calling-tech-during-covid19 BUT they require a Facebook account to work. Hmmmm. Calling @YaelEisenstat! ...
And this’ll boil your blood. TWO MILLION vets could miss out on $1,200 #coronavirus relief checks because Congress failed to plan for the fact that their income is primarily made up of untaxed benefits, like disability or survivor benefits or pensions: https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/millions-of-veterans-could-miss-out-on-1200-relief-checks ...
Per usual, @SecWilkie is MIA. No interviews with real media. BUT he did go to another far-right radio show for a softball lovefest with Todd Starnes—who broadcasts from Liberty University & calls himself “America’s Conservative Blowtorch”: https://omny.fm/shows/toddcast/apr-14-va-secretary-robert-wilkie-sheriff-richard #WhereIsWilkie..
If you missed it, @maddow had me on last night for a segment on #WhereIsWilkie and the rest: https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/lack-of-leadership-by-wilkie-cited-in-va-shortcomings-on-covid-19-82055749660 as the number of dead veterans in the Holyoke Soldiers' Home is now at 44 ...
For more on this @DeptVetAffairs (& @DeptofDefense) madness, download the recent episodes of @angryamericans. And a new one coming tomorrow. Subscribe for free: http://GetAngry.us . It’s NOT broadcast from a University that helps spread #COVID19. #StayVigilant #StayFrosty
