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More than 100 members of the National Guard stationed at Capitol Hill have tested positive for COVID-19, defense officials said on Friday.
Photos and reports of members of the guard working in close proximity to each other have raised concerns about a possible outbreak.
Senator Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Told Fox News his office is investigating the type of precautions taken by coronavirus guards when deployed to Washington, DC
Members of the Florida National Guard did not undergo COVID-19 testing prior to deployment, but conducted screenings and were offered the Moderna vaccine before traveling, a Department of Military Affairs spokesperson said from the state to Fox News. The military wear masks and do daily screenings, and no member from Florida has tested positive.
NATIONAL GUARD PAUSE TIME IN CAPITOL-AREA PARKING GARAGE MAKES LAWYERS SMOKE
No member of the Wisconsin service has tested positive either, Major Joe Trovato of the Wisconsin National Guard told Fox News on Friday.
“All of our troops are medically examined for COVID-19 every day, and they were tested before they went to Washington, DC, and every day since,” Trovato said. “Our troops have also implemented COVID mitigation strategies such as mandatory masks and social distancing whenever possible.”
Several lawmakers were outraged Wednesday night to learn that the military had been ordered to crowd into a parking lot to rest on their shifts, and a handful of governors ordered their troops to return home.
The National Guard said it was working with Capitol Police to ensure the guard is in appropriate spaces.
NATIONAL GUARD SAYS THERE WAS ‘NO CONFRONTATIONS’ WITH PROTESTERS DURING SUBMITTED INAUGURATION
“The USCP and the National Guard have coordinated their efforts to ensure that National Guardsmen and women are stationed throughout the Capitol complex in appropriate spaces in buildings of Congress, including the United States Capitol, where they can take breaks on duty, ”the National Guard said. On Friday, the office spokesperson told Fox News in a statement. “The troops at rest are accommodated in hotel rooms or other comfortable accommodation.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte have ordered members of the National Guard to return home after the inauguration.
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Nearly 26,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to Washington, DC, to deal with potential unrest surrounding the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
The National Guard said Thursday that 10,600 troops remained on duty in Washington, DC, and that approximately 7,000 military personnel would remain on Capitol Hill until the end of this month.
Jacqui Heinrich of Fox News contributed to this report.
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