Veterans Affairs Secretary Wilkie on COVID-19: Not all is grim

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie says that the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on veterans is not all "grim."

Testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee, Wilkie said 76 percent of the veterans treated by the VA for COVID-19 have recovered.

New York Democrat Rep. Nita Lowey asked Wilkie about the VA's use of hydroxychloroquine. Wilkie said that while it has been used to treat COVID-19 if a patient has requested or wants to use it, the amount being administered has declined as they've tried other experimental treatments, including remdesivir.

Lowey responded to his comments saying, "I would hope that the V.A. would respond to the science that is clearly coming from Dr. Fauci rather than some wishful thinking coming from the president."

Wilkie said that in response to stay-at-home orders, the VA has increased virtual mental health efforts and they plan to release a plan on responding to mental health during the pandemic next month.