Aug 25, 2021 - Health

Georgia to send national guard to hospitals amid COVID-19 surge

Ivana Saric

Gov. Brian Kemp in a face mask — Gov. Brian Kemp. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced Tuesday that more than 100 Georgia National Guard troops will deploy to 10 hospitals around the state to help staff amid a COVID-19 case and hospitalization surge.

State of play: "This Georgia National Guard mission is in addition to the 2,800 state-supported staff and 450 new beds brought online I announced last week, at a total state investment of $625 million through December of this year," Kemp stated in a news release.

"I continue to urge all Georgians to talk to a medical professional about getting vaccinated," Kemp said.

The big picture: Georgia last week passed 1 million reported COVID-19 infections, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Kemp also last week issued an executive order allowing businesses to not comply with local mask or vaccine mandates meant to stop the spread of the virus.

Worth noting: Oregon, Hawaii and Kentucky have also deployed National Guard troops to help with COVID-19 case surges.

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Georgia to send national guard to hospitals amid COVID-19 surge

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