Nearly 20,000 U.S. National Guard members, from all 50 states, plus three U.S. territories and the District of Columbia have joined the effort to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, the U.S. National Guard posted an update on the number of its members taking part in those efforts to fight coronavirus. National Guard members have been working as medical staff in hospitals, distributing food to communities, managing drive-thru coronavirus testing, and converting facilities into makeshift hospitals.
Today, more than 19,700 National Guard members from all 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia continue to fight the spread of COVID-19 with federal, state and local partners. 📷: https://t.co/dT0nztsmSM pic.twitter.com/rhHDfnB5yU
— National Guard (@USNationalGuard) April 3, 2020
Last week, members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the New York National Guard converted the Javits Center in New York into a temporary hospital to begin taking on additional patients in the state.
New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 133rd Composite Supply Company, part of the 53rd Troop Command, warehouse and inventory the initial shipments of a FEMA Field Hospital for setup at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City March 25, 2020. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Sean Madden)
At the time, the USACE indicated it was looking at setting up a similar hospital in Seattle, Washington, and was reviewing up to ten other locations in New York that could be used for similar hospital measures.
Other efforts from the National Guard’s response across the nation have included the transport of medical supplies throughout the states.
U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1053rd and 1055th Transportation companies, South Carolina National Guard, transport personal protective equipment and other supplies March 27, 2020 to the 46 counties in South Carolina in support of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The South Carolina National Guard remains ready to support the counties, local and state agencies, and first responders with requested resources for as long as needed in support of COVID-19 response efforts in the state. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Cashion, South Carolina National Guard)
Members of the 1053rd and 1055th Transportation companies, South Carolina National Guard were pictured shipping personal protective equipment and other medical supplies to 46 of the counties in the state.
Members of Michigan’s National Guard have also been dispatched to help four food banks throughout the state, according to a military press release. The mobile food distribution centers have been relied on to provide food to between 300 and 600 Michigan families each day.
Michigan National Guard members support the distribution of food for Michigan families in need during the state’s response to COVID-19 at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, Flint, Mich., March 30, 2020 (U.S. National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob Cessna/released).
National Guard members in Washington have also assisted in food distribution efforts within their state.
Specialist Robert Levy of Vancouver, an automated logistical specialist, Alpha Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion and personal finance specialist grabs cans of food for packaging at the Nourish Food Bank in Lakewood, Wash. on April 3, 2020. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)
