WASHINGTON — The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continued today, as the hospital ship USNS Comfort departed New York, after treating patients from the New York and New Jersey area. National Guardsmen provided much-needed support in fighting the virus – from North Carolina, through West Virginia and New York.
FEMA continues to expedite movement of commercially pre-sourced and procured critical supplies from the global market to medical distributors in various locations across the U.S. through Project Airbridge.
As of April 29, Project Airbridge has completed 99 flights with an additional 18 scheduled or in transit. Four flights landed yesterday, one each in Chicago, Baltimore, New York in Los Angeles. Five flights are scheduled to land today, two in Chicago, two in Los Angeles and one in New York.
Through Project Airbridge, the following supplies have been delivered from overseas manufacturers to the U.S. and into private sector supply chains from March 29 to April 29:
- More than 768,000 N-95 masks.
- More than 825 million gloves.
- More than 75.5 million surgical masks.
- More than 10.8 million surgical gowns.
- More than 2.2 million thermometers.
- More than 616,000 face shields.
- More than 195,000 coveralls.
- More than 109,000 stethoscopes.
NC Guardsmen Help Chapel Hill Area Schools Feed Children in Need
CHAPEL Hill, N.C. (April 29, 2020) — Spc. Michael Bowdre (left) and Spc. Alphonzia Hill (center), both with the North Carolina National Guard’s 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 449th Theater Aviation Brigade, load food for distribution to children who have no access to free or reduced school meal programs. More than 900 North Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen have been activated in response to COVID-19 relief efforts.
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mary Junell
USNS Comfort Departs New York After COVID-19 Deployment
NEW YORK (April 30, 2020) — New York Police Department Pipes and Drums band play for the crew of the hospital ship USNS Comfort before they depart New York Harbor after treating patients in New York and New Jersey. The Navy, along with other U.S. Northern Command forces, remains engaged throughout the nation in support of the COVID-19 response.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Keia Randall
W.Va Guard Teaches High-powered Sanitation Practice at State Capitol
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (April 29, 2020) — Sgt. 1st Class Brian Tomasek with the West Virginia National Guard’s Task Force Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Enterprise, collects post-sanitization swabs from a conference room after it was sanitized with an Aerosolized Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP) system to demonstrate its disinfection capabilities at the West Virginia Capitol Complex. The three-man team form TF-CRE is teaching employees from the State of West Virginia Department of Administration General Services Division how to use the AHP system to clean rooms and combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Eugene Crist
Firefighters and National Guard Provide PPE to Essential Businesses
HARTFORD, Conn. (April 29, 2020) — Hartford Fire Department Chief Reginald D. Freeman, and director of emergency management, helps distribute PPE to essential small businesses at the Hartford Public Safety Complex. The PPE was provided to the Hartford Fire Department by the Connecticut National Guard, coordinating with the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Steven Tucker
New York National Guard Supports Brooklyn Food Pantry
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — New York Army National Guard Pvt. Melanie Cruz and Spc. Justin Carpenter assemble grocery bags, while Spc. Josh Munoz hands out a bag of flour at the Brooklyn Food Pantry. The Soldiers, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery, helping feed New Yorkers affected by COVID-19. On average, over 100,000 meals a day are delivered to individuals in need across all five New York City boroughs.
U.S. National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Greg Cheung.
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