Weekly update on Washington National Guard COVID-19 relief efforts 2105051

CAMP MURRAY, WA, UNITED STATES

05.05.2021

Story by Capt. Charlie Boisner 

122nd Theater Public Affairs Support Element

May 5th, 2021
Release No. 2105051
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Weekly update on Washington National Guard COVID-19 relief efforts

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Joint Task Force Steelhead, the Washington National Guard’s COVID-19 response force, continues to serve Washington communities by providing personnel and support to vaccination sites, food distribution centers, assisting medical operations, and other relief efforts across the state of Washington.

The Washington National Guard's JTF Steelhead continues to support state and county emergency managers in their unified efforts during the COVID-19 response.

During the Week of April 26 – May 2, 2021, the follow actions happened:

• 15,613 vaccines were administered by Washington National Guard medical personnel
Guard medical personnel administered 15,613 COVID-19 vaccines at Franklin, Spokane, Chelan, and Clark county mass-vaccination sites along with mobile teams assisting in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Thurston, Snohomish and Whatcom counties. As of May 2nd, over 216,864 vaccines have been administered by Washington National Guard medical personnel. We continue to work in support, and at the direction, of the Washington State Department of Health to ensure that every person that wants a vaccine has access to a vaccine.

• 819,463 pounds of food and 120,477 meals were packaged and distributed
JTF Steelhead continues to support 39 food banks and distribution centers across the state. Since April 2020, we have helped package and distribute more than 91 million pounds of food and 5.5 million meals. The Washington National Guard continues to support the Washington State Department of Agriculture and community food banks to help alleviate food insecurity caused by the effects of COVID-19.

•12 ventilators and 20 hospital beds were transported to medical facilities across the state
The Washington National Guard’s medical surge team assisted Washington State Department of Health in providing safe isolation and quarantine facilities to four individuals who would not otherwise had access to such resources. 12 ventilators and 20 hospital beds were resourced and transported to a children’s care facility in Olympia to enable the facility to manage admitted COVID-19 cases.

Key events, week of April 26-May 2, 2021:

The Washington National Guard’s fourth mobile vaccination team began operating in Lewis County, starting with a mass vaccination clinic in Chehalis, Wash., April 27. The team will continue to operate around the county, in support of the Lewis County Public Health District, to provide vaccines to residents there for at least a month.

For additional questions please contact the JTF Steelhead Public Affairs Office at [e-mail] or call 253-512-4861.

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• Date Taken: 05.05.2021
• Date Posted: 05.05.2021 18:40
• Story ID: 395754
• Location: CAMP MURRAY, WA, US