January 7, 2022 10:20 a.m. 

Governor Kate Brown has announced that she will be deploying up to 500 members of the Oregon National Guard to support frontline health care workers as Oregon hospitals face a surge of hospitalizations due to the rapid spread of Omicron variant.

Beginning next week, an initial 126 Guard members will be deployed to hospitals around the state to provide needed logistical support as materials handlers and equipment runners, as well as assisting with COVID-19 testing and other necessary non-clinical services to support hospital operations. A release said the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon National Guard will continue to work with the hospital systems to monitor ongoing need and determine additional deployments as necessary.

While the Guard also has members with health care, nursing and medical training, many of those are already at work for their civilian employers, Oregon hospitals and health care providers.