Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday afternoon he will deploy National Guard personnel to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville and other hospitals across the state as COVID hospitalizations continue to rise.
A total of 105 personnel will be deployed to 10 hospital across Georgia, according to information released by the governor's office in Atlanta.
"These guardsmen will assist our frontline healthcare workers as they provide quality medical care during the current increase in cases and hospitalizations," Kemp said in his announcement. "I greatly appreciate General [Thomas] Carden and his team for their willingness to answer the call again in our fight against COVID-19."
Just last week, Kemp announced the state would provide an additional 2,800 staff members for hospitals and open up 450 new beds for COVID patients, an investment of $625 million in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
At this time, there's no word on how many National Guard troops will be assigned to NGMC in Gainesville or specifically what duties they will perform.
In addition to NGMC, troops have been assigned to the following Georgia hospitals:
- Southeast Georgia Health System, Brunswick
- Piedmont Henry, Stockbridge
- Wellstar Kennestone, Marietta
- Phoebe Putney, Albany
- Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah
- Navicent Health, Macon
- Grady Hospital, Atlanta
- Piedmont Fayette, Fayetteville
- Houston Medical Center, Warner Robins
Kemp said the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Community Health is coordinating the deployment effort.
