Minnesota National Guard Responds to Latest COVID Surge

Photo By Anthony Housey | Soldiers and Airmen from the Minnesota National Guard train on Camp Ripley following an activation by the Governor to support the state’s COVID-19 response efforts November of 2021. Their focus includes supporting the community and providing staffing support to temporary care facilities.  

MN, UNITED STATES

11.04.2021

Story by Anthony Housey 

Camp Ripley Training Center

November 4, 2021 (CAMP RIPLEY, Minnesota) – Minnesota National Guard citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen were activated this month to support the state’s COVID-19 response efforts.

As COVID-19 cases in Minnesota continue to overwhelm hospitals struggling with staffing, Governor Tim Walz announced in a press conference on Nov. 2, 2021, the state will open its first alternate care site.

Benedictine St. Gertrude’s in Shakopee, Minnesota, is a senior care facility that is supporting the overflow of COVID-19 patients. They can accept up to 30 patients and will employ a staff consisting of nurses from the Minnesota Department of Health and recently activated members of the Minnesota National Guard to serve as temporary nursing assistants.

"The Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are highly training and ready for this mission to support the citizens of Minnesota," said Army Lt. Col. Brian Douty of the Minnesota National Guard’s Officer-in-Charge of this mission.

Last year, more than 400 Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were activated to support the growing concerns facing care facilities and hospitals as COVID-19 positive numbers increased. This time, the Guardsmen and women will be focused on three specific areas: Supporting nasal swab community testing sites, supporting saliva community testing sites, and providing staffing support to long-term care facilities.

“In our continued partnership with the Department of Health, we know that the size of our classrooms, the experience of our Guard members, and our Medical Unit Training Facility were ready and energized the moment we were called to support the temporary care facilities,” said Army Brig. Gen. Lowell Kruse, Camp Ripley’s Senior Commander and Assistant Adjutant General - Army for the Minnesota National Guard.

Activated Guard members are completing temporary nursing aide training at Camp Ripley per Minnesota Department of Health guidelines. Minnesota National Guard medical personnel are training this group of Soldiers and Airmen, and the training is validated by the Minnesota Department of Health professionals.

“Camp Ripley’s facilities are well suited to this type of training, and we are always ready to support the State of Minnesota’s Guard members,” added Kruse.

Minnesota is experiencing the most recent surge of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic as patients infected with coronavirus are nearing 1,000 in the state’s hospitals. According to state data released on Friday by the Minnesota Department of Health, an additional 3,352 COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths has impacted hospital and care facility staff who are already experiencing shortages.

“This is a smaller group, but just like last year, everyone has a positive attitude and are very receptive to the tasks at hand. The professionalism of the Minnesota National Guard is just one of the reasons why this is such a great partnership,” said Shannon Christensen of the Minnesota Health Department.

Due to the sensitive nature of the support provided, the Minnesota National Guard desires to respect the residents’ privacy and facilities it serves.

• Date Taken: 11.04.2021
• Date Posted: 11.10.2021 14:55
• Story ID: 409151
• Location: MN, US