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YOUNGSTOWN -- About 20 EMT-trained Ohio National Guardsmen will be assisting at St Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and St. Joseph Warren Hospital, according to a statement from Mercy Health Youngstown.
Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff announced Wednesday 750 Guardsmen, including 150 medical personnel, would be deployed to seven hospitals in northern Ohio hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Mike DeWine initially announced the deployment of 1,050 National Guard members to hospitals last week. Guardsmen are being sent to larger regional hospitals so services can be provided there, including medical transport, to help "alleviate pressure" on smaller, rural hospitals, Vanderhoff said.
"Mercy Health Youngstown is grateful to Gov. DeWine for providing additional resources to our hospitals during this extremely challenging time," reads the statement from Mercy. "We look forward to welcoming the men and women of the Ohio National Guard into our hospitals and will continue to work with the governor's office to address critical staffing issues that impact the region."
The 750 members of the National Guard will be deployed by the end of this week, with the other 300 expected to be deployed next week.
Mercy Health also is asking the people of the Mahoning Valley to do their part to stay safe this holiday season, including wearing masks when appropriate, washing hands frequently and avoiding contact with others if not feeling well.
Mercy Health also recommends the COVID-19 vaccine "because it is safe, highly effective and the way our communities will move beyond this pandemic."