Third coronavirus-related death reported at Reno VA hospital
RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — A third Reno VA hospital employee has died from the coronavirus.
In a letter sent to staff on Thursday afternoon from VA director Lisa Howard says, "I am frankly in shock and a bit at a loss for words, and so very sorry to bring this news to you. We have lost another cherished member of our VA family today, Alex Gousev, and his wife Mary and son Alex Jr. lost their anchor."
Howard goes on to say that Gousev joined the Reno VA in 2007 working in Pathology and Laboratory Services and most recently joined the Community Care Service at the VA hospital.
Gousev is the second employee from Reno's VA hospital who has died from the coronavirus in less than four days.
Vianna Thompson, a nurse in the emergency department at Reno VA hospital, died from COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 7. Thompson joined the VA team in 2013 as a nurse working in the float pool and most recently in the emergency department.
The loss of two members of our Community Care Service team seems an unfair burden. Know that we all share in your grief.
Bruce McAllister, the first COVID-19 death in Washoe County, worked at a building on the Reno VA campus but not inside the hospital, according to his wife.
Howard reminds her employees to love one another and do everything they can to take care of yourself.
Washoe County's ninth and tenth COVID-19 deaths were reported shortly after 2 p.m. on Thursday.
