VA increasing research into long-term COVID illnesses while bracing for more short-term cases

FOR THE VETERAN OF THE VETERAN SHARE OF THE DAY

VA increasing research into long-term COVID illnesses while bracing for more short-term cases
By Leo Shane III
Monday, Apr 25
Youngstown City Health Department worker Faith Terreri grabs two at-home COVID-19 test kits to be handed out during a distribution event on Dec. 30, 2021, in Youngstown, Ohio. (David Dermer/AP)

Veterans Affairs officials will expand their research into the long-term detrimental effects of COVID-19 even as they brace for the possibility of more short-term flare ups caused by the virus in the near future.

On Monday, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said 17 VA sites have already established long-COVID care clinics, with 20 more on the way in coming months. Along with treating the small percentage of VA patients with lingering or recurring virus illnesses, the sites will also conduct research on the persistence and impact of the virus.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SGT Charlie Lee PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] SSG William Jones Sgt (Join to see) 1SG Dan Capri CDR Andrew McMenamin, PhD SrA John Monette SFC Bernard Walko GySgt Jack Wallace SPC Michael Terrell SMSgt Anil Heendeniya CPL Patrick Rasmussen CPL Douglas Chrysler