NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard, working alongside state and local agencies, has tested more than 400,000 Tennesseans for COVID-19 since March.
“Our Soldiers and Airmen have been working around the clock since the pandemic began,” said Lt. Col. Keith Evans, the deputy commander for Tennessee National Guard’s Medical Detachment. “The number of citizens they have helped is a testament to their dedication to their neighbors and communities.”
Since April, Evans has been a part of Tennessee National Guard’s COVID-19 response as a medical provider and directing testing throughout the state. He is the acting commander for Task Force Medical and oversees 21 test sites throughout Tennessee.
At the start of the pandemic, members of the Guard established temporary testing sites throughout the state to include vulnerable populations at long-term care facilities, county and state corrections facilities, public housing, and many other locations. They have tested some 47,000 of the most vulnerable.
Guard members also established an infectious disease team that visits hospitals and alternative care centers to help develop processes to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Service members also set up drop-off sites and collected personal protective equipment donated to hospitals, law enforcement agencies, fire departments and other first responders.
The Tennessee Guard worked with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to distribute over 12 million units of PPE.
“Our Guardsmen are professionals that are committed to helping beat this pandemic,” said Evans.