x

Texas National Guard to help with state's COVID-19 response

3 years 11 months 2 weeks ago Saturday, March 28 2020 Mar 28, 2020 March 28, 2020 5:03 PM March 28, 2020 in News - AP Texas Headlines
Chef Rose Barrett prepares dinner salads that would accompany the chicken tetrazzini being made by the staff in the commercial kitchen at The Potters House Church in Dallas, Friday, March 27, 2020. The church's kitchen staff planned on making and donating 1,000 meals that would be delivered to area healthcare workers and first responders as they help in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. The kitchen which is part of the church founded by Bishop T.D. Jakes, typically prepares meals for banquets, high school graduations and community functions being held at the church's event center. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas National Guard will help with drive-thru testing for coronavirus in the state.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday the deployment of three National Guard Joint Task Force Brigades.

At least 27 people with COVID-19 in Texas have died while more than 2,000 have tested positive, the Texas Department of State Health Services said Saturday. Officials said that more than 25,000 people in the state have been tested.

Abbott said he’s ordered the guardsman to initially focus on assisting drive-thru testing sites and bolstering the state’s health care infrastructure with medical providers, equipment and supplies.

Abbott said that over the past week, Guardsmen have practiced erecting and running drive-thru testing site locations alongside medical staff to make sure it’s a well-coordinated process.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

___

Check out more of the AP’s coronavirus coverage at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

More News


Radar
7 Days