Walz to deploy National Guard to help ease COVID-19 surge
October 15, 2021 2:01PM CDT
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz put his face mask at the conclusion of a press conference Thursday, July 30, 2020 announcing the learning plan for Minnesota schools for the upcoming 2020-21 school year. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP, Pool)
By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press
ROBBINSDALE, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz says he’ll use the Minnesota National Guard to help alleviate staffing shortages at hospitals and care facilities that are struggling with the surge in COVID-19 cases.
The governor announced plans Friday at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale for alleviating bottlenecks caused by staffing shortages that prevent hospitals from moving recovering patients to transitional and long-term care facilities.
Around 400 Minnesota hospital patients are waiting for beds to open up at other care centers. Walz says the number of Guard soldiers who will be deployed to help out and their exact roles have yet to be determined.
