VA updates COVID-19 PPE guidance

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials said the agency has updated guidance regarding distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to VA health care workers assisting veterans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ensuring our VA health care workers’ safety during this global pandemic must be a top priority,” said Sen. Jon Tester, ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, who officials said has been instrumental in the update. “Getting critical PPE to better protect our brave nurses and doctors on the front lines is an essential step in slowing the spread of the virus and keeping our communities healthy. VA’s decision—a long time coming—means a safer environment for vulnerable veterans who are at a higher risk for developing complications from infection.”

Before the guidance revision, PPE was solely provided to staff caring for COVID-19 patients or the highest-risk veterans, placing many health care workers and patients at greater risk of contracting the virus.

Now the Veterans Health Administration has indicated it has begun providing facility health care workers with direct patient care responsibilities, as well as those caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infected patients, with essential PPE that includes surgical masks, N95 respirators or powered air-purifying respirators.

The new guidelines also extend PPE and resources to home health care workers serving veterans in the community.