Photo By Staff Sgt. Justin Andras | Soldiers and airmen from the Indiana National Guard assisted the Indiana State...... read more read more
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Soldiers and airmen from the Indiana National Guard assisted the Indiana State Department of Health and local agencies at 18 newly-established COVID-19 study test sites from April 25-29, 2020. The initiative by Governor Eric Holcomb and Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health aimed to examine the prevalence of COVID-19 among Hoosiers.
“This is exactly the kind of innovative Hoosier thinking and action taking we are known for,” said Holcomb. “In terms of thoroughness, I would put this studying project up against any other project in the country that we have been looking at.”
10,000 randomly selected Hoosiers across the state received invitations requesting their assistance in this study to ensure results accurately reflected racial, ethnic and geographic demographics.
“This study will give us better understanding of the extent to which individuals are showing antibodies that indicate signs of past infection,” said Dr. Kristina Box, ISDH commissioner. “We believe this data will better inform our plans to safely reopen our state and determine what the new normal mode of operation looks like.”
The 18 testing sites consisted of eight fixed drive-thru sites and 10 mobile recreational vehicle sites. Testing took place at multiple locations in 54 counties throughout the state. Guard soldiers, airmen and other medical personnel obtained samples from the selectees via intranasal swab and blood extraction.
"The interagency operability has been vital to the success of this mission,” said Sgt. Tyler Ellis, section sergeant for Troop A, 1st Squadron, 152 Cavalry Regiment and noncommissioned officer in charge of the testing site in Noblesville. "We all came together and contributed equipment, resources and personnel to create a full-scale site to swab for COVID-19 and draw blood for the antibody test."
The collaborative effort between ISDH, Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Department of Transportation, local emergency medical services personnel and other organizations allowed medical professionals to explore alternative means for treating the COVID-19 virus until they obtain an effective vaccine.
“It is exciting to be supporting this in-depth scientific study about what this virus is doing within our population,“ said Sgt. 1st Class Justin Cadle of the 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment and noncommissioned officer in charge of the testing site at Ivy Tech College, Valparaiso. “We’re just a piece of the pie helping to complete this mission along with the state and local agencies.”
Citizen soldiers and airmen throughout Indiana answered the call of the governor, the state and their nation to assist local agencies and the community during this critical time of need. Likewise, Hoosiers continued to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus through the stay-at-home order set forth by Governor Holcomb in March.
"These tasks that help out the community are what you join the National Guard for," said Ellis. "People can come through this testing site, feel safe and see that we are here to help out in times of need."
State agencies remained confident that data acquired through the further testing would create significant strides toward the search for a method to flatten the curve and defeat the virus.
“We are very grateful to our medics from the National Guard for taking blood samples and the EMS workers who will work to collect specimens,” said Box. “It truly does take a village to pull off something like this, and we are grateful to everyone who is contributing their part for this study.”
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2020 10:56 |
| Story ID: | 368816 |
| Location: | INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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