ABILENE, TX — The Department of Defense is sending military medical personnel to Abilene to help battle the COVID surge.
Governor Greg Abbott announced the DOD deployed 80 military medical personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force to Abilene, Lufkin, and Eagle Pass.
The personnel include nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical doctors.
In Abilene, they will help support Hendrick Medical Center which has not had an empty ICU bed since at least Nov. 17.
The Abilene Trauma Service Area has been above 15% COVID hospital capacity since Dec. 19.
“Thank you to our partners at the Department of Defense for supporting Texas’ COVID-19 response by providing these additional resources to Abilene, Lufkin, and Eagle Pass,” said Abbott. “The medical personnel deployed to our communities will provide much needed support to our front line healthcare workers.”
U.S. Army North, the Joint Force Land Component Command of U.S Northern Command, will oversee the military COVID-19 response.
“This is the fourth time Department of Defense medical assets have deployed to support our home state,” said Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, ARNORTH and JFLCC commander. “We can and we will beat COVID-19. This is truly a joint effort and I am confident that collectively our service members are up to the task.”
