Ohio National Guard to assist in COVID-19 test collection, staff long-term care facilities

COLUMBUS — The Ohio National Guard has assembled teams to assist with the COVID-19 test collection and temporary staffing at long-term care facilities at the request of Governor DeWine.

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Teams of medically qualified personnel will be supporting the Ohio Department of Health in the testing collection to better understand how extensive the virus is at the facilities.

“With the help of the Ohio National Guard, we will be increasing our testing in an effort to protect our most vulnerable citizens and control the spread of the virus," DeWine said.

The Ohio National Guard is currently providing short-term medical support to Carlin House Assisted Living Center in Logan, Ohio due to staffing shortages related to COVID-19.

Last weekend the National Guard completed a one-day mission, supporting the Ohio Department of Veteran Services with medical personnel who collected COVID-19 tests at the Ohio Veteran's Home in Georgetown.

“Our members continue to step up at a moment’s notice to answer the call to serve,” said Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general in a release. “Our state is looking to the Ohio National Guard to help and we will not let them down."

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More than 900 Ohio National Guard and Ohio Military Reserve members have served their community during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Missions have included humanitarian efforts at 14 local food banks and regional warehouses, PPE collection, collaboration with regional partners to

identify and develop alternate care sites to expand medical capacity, and augmentation of medical and operational staff at prisons.

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