U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Thomas Watson puts together a patient meal at Salem Hospital on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Gov. Kate Brown is again calling on the Oregon National Guard to aid hospitals around the state during a projected surge in hospitalized Covid patients.
Brown announced Friday morning she would deploy up to 500 members of the Guard as needed, with an initial deployment of 125 members next week.
Guard members deployed will help with logistical and other non-medical tasks. Guard members with health care and medical training are generally already occupied working civilian jobs in the health care sector, the announcement said.
“With more than 500 current hospitalizations and daily record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases, we are at another critical point in this pandemic—and the Oregon National Guard is stepping up again to assist,” Brown said in a statement. “I would like to thank the employers of our Guard members—we cannot call upon these hardworking Guard members without your sacrifice and support as well. While Guard members work to support our frontline health care workers, I am asking all Oregonians to continue to do your part to help. Get vaccinated, get boosted, wear your masks, and stay home when you are sick.”
It’s the second time Oregon has relied on the Guard to help overwhelmed hospitals since the pandemic began. During the Delta surge in late summer, Guard members went to hospitals across the state, including Salem Hospital. There, about 100 Guard members helped with check-in, meal delivery and other logistical work.
Friday’s announcement didn’t detail where the first Guard members would be sent. Liz Merah, a spokeswoman for the governor, said those details were still being worked out.
-Rachel Alexander
