By Beau Evans
Capitol Beat News Service
Gov. Brian Kemp is sending more than 100 Georgia National Guard members to oversee operations at assisted-living facilities and nursing homes in the state where elderly residents have been infected with coronavirus.
Senior citizens are among the most vulnerable populations at risk for harmful health effects from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel strain of coronavirus that has sparked a global pandemic. The virus had infected at least 3,817 people and killed 108 in Georgia as of noon Tuesday.
On Tuesday, 20 National Guard members were deployed to Pelham Parkway Nursing Home in South Georgia, according to a news release from the governor’s office. The Pelham facility has reported five residents tested positive for coronavirus, Kemp’s office said.
The 20 soldiers in Pelham are tasked with cleaning the facility, auditing its sanitation methods and training staff on measures aimed at halting the virus’ spread. Clusters of four or five soldiers will head to other elderly care facilities across the state in the coming weeks, according to the news release.
In all, 100 National Guard members will fan out across the state to help prop up nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
“The Georgia National Guard stands ready to assist any long-term care facility in this time of need through staff training and implementation of infectious disease control measures,” said Adjutant General Tom Carden. “Our training has prepared us to fight this virus, and we are eager to lend a hand in this battle.”