CENTENNIAL, Colo. – By order of Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado National Guard assisted the State Emergency Operations Center and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment by administering nearly 900 COVID-19 tests of residents and staff at long-term care facilities in multiple Colorado communities.
About 70 Colorado National Guard members from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield explosive Enhanced Response Force Package, based at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, conducted testing. The lab test resulted in 20 positives cases in facilities in Colorado Springs, Broomfield and Thornton.
“Colorado’s citizen warriors will continue to work with these and other senior living facilities to protect this vulnerable population and to stop the spread of the virus within these communities. We will continue to be ready to respond to requests from the state to support any other long term care facilities.” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh said. “The National Guard is providing necessary capability and capacity to help our local and state partners to save lives across our state.”
More than 420 Colorado National Guard members are currently mobilized for the COVID-19 response.
More than 275 CONG members are supporting the City and County of Denver to shelter people in Denver experiencing homelessness.
About 50 Soldiers are assisting the state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to convert the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, and the Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, Colorado, into medical shelters.
The CONG is also providing planners to support local emergency operation centers in other Colorado communities that the state has designated.
All CONG members have been medically screened and are on Title 32 federally funded orders under state control.
Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen continue to serve in their full-time roles supporting the CONG operation from Joint Force Headquarters in Centennial, Colorado.
Our priorities are to protect our force and families and all Americans, and maintain our wartime readiness while supporting our local, state, and federal partners to prevent the spread of the disease and save lives.
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