August 16, 2021 3:20 a.m.

On Friday, Governor Kate Brown announced that she is deploying up to 1,500 members of the Oregon National Guard to support frontline health care workers as hospitals in the state face a surge of hospitalizations due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant.

Brown said starting this coming Friday, an initial 500 Guard members will be deployed to hospitals to provide logistical support as materials handlers and equipment runners, as well as assisting with COVID-19 testing and other necessary services to support hospital operations. A release said the Oregon National Guard is prepared to provide logistical support for more than 20 hospitals across the state.

Brown said, “I cannot emphasize enough the seriousness of this crisis for all Oregonians, especially those needing emergency and intensive care. When our hospitals are full with COVID-19 patients, there may not be room for someone needing care after a car crash, a heart attack, or other emergency situation”.

Brown said she knows this is not the summer many people envisioned, with over 2.5 million vaccinated against COVID-19. Brown said, “the harsh and frustrating reality is that the Delta variant has changed everything. Delta is highly contagious and we must take action now”.

The release said the Guard has members with health care, nursing and medical training, with many of them already working for their civilian employers including Oregon hospitals and health care providers.