ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday that he is deploying the Georgia National Guard to assisted living facilities and nursing homes to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Kemp said 100 guardsmen will be sent to specific locations across the state to implement infection control protocols and enhanced sanitation methods.
SPECIAL SECTION --> Latest on coronavirus in Georgia and around the world]
"Georgia's top priority is increasing healthcare capacity to protect vulnerable Georgians, especially those residing in long-term care facilities," Kemp said. "If we can keep these populations as healthy as possible, we will be able to conserve precious medical supplies and hospital bed space in the coming days and weeks."
Twenty soldiers headed to the Pelham parkway Nursing home Tuesday. Five confirmed cases have been reported there.
[DOWNLOAD: WSB-TV app for alerts sent to you the moment new numbers are released]
Phoebe-Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany also said Kemp sent 44 National Guardsmen to help with the response there.
“We’ve received multiple shipments of emergency supplies and are grateful for the incredible support of Gov. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health during through this public health crisis,” the hospital wrote on Twitter.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
