40 National Guard members assigned to Arkansas hospitals in COVID relief effort

LITTLE ROCK (TB&P) — On a day when COVID-19 hospitalizations in Arkansas rose by 73 to 892, the Arkansas National Guard (ANG) said 40 of its members will work in healthcare operations in Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Mountain Home, Pine Bluff, Rogers and Springdale.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Jan. 4 said he planned to activate up to 50 National Guard members for medical support during the ongoing COVID surge, with state officials working with the Arkansas Hospital Association “to identify the greatest area of need.”

According to the ANG, the 40 Guard members, at the request of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, are from the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and will deploy to nine hospitals in eight Arkansas cities to assist with COVID testing “in order to help protect state residents and meet testing demand in the current Covid-19 surge.” In addition to testing support, Guard members are also available to help with administration and intake jobs, according to Lt. Col. Will Phillips.

The members will gather on Jan. 10 at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock and then report to assigned hospitals on Jan. 11. Their orders are for 30 days but could change based on changing needs in the health care sector.

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