Over 150 National Guard deployed at Biden’s inauguration get COVID-19
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Around 150 to 200 troopers from the National Guard installed at the inauguration in Washington were tested positive with coronavirus.
- An anonymous official said that that the number of infected officers is just a small fraction out of the total 25,000 troopers.
- The National Guard did not confirm the reports but said all its officers follow CDC health and testing guidelines.
At least 150 to 200 National Guard assigned to Washington, D.C., as security detail for President Joe Biden during his inauguration have contracted coronavirus, an official confirmed on Friday.
Following the violent attack at the Capitol on Jan.6 by Trump supporters, the U.S government has enforced stricter security measures in the city, which includes checkpoints by the National Guard and razor-wired fences.
The anonymous U.S official said there could be more infected National Guard officers, but clarified that it was only a small percentage of more than 25,000 men installed in the city in the last few days.
On Thursday, the U.S has exceeded 4,000 daily coronavirus deaths in two consecutive days, as reported by Reuters through its examination of public health records. Recent statistics show that there are almost 410,000 people in the U.S who died from the pandemic.
In a statement, the National Guard said it will not disclose its COVID-19 cases, but said its force were complying with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention measures and screening protocols.
The armed forces also said that necessary preparations are being arranged for thousands of officers to come home and that around 15,000 are set to leave Washington between the following 5-10 days.
Officials also said that about 7,000 National Guards are to stay at least this month, while no less than 5,000 troops are expected to stay up until the middle of March, but subject to change depending on the situation.
Source: AOL
