Minnesota National Guardsmen train to assist the state’s COVID-19 response

Minnesota National Guardsmen are training to assist with the state’s COVID-19 response.

The Minnesota National Guard activated more than 400 soldiers and airmen throughout the week to help support Minnesota’s COVID-19 response efforts.

Along with supporting long-term care facilities, guardsman will also assist at saliva testing locations in Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Moorhead.

More than 400 Minnesota National Guard members to be activated this week to help with COVID-19 response

In preparation for the long-term care assignments, guardsmen are completing temporary nursing assistant training in accordance with the Minnesota Department of Health and National Center for Assisted Living.

The guardsmen are being taught about things like dressing bed sores and nursing care assistance.

The assistance comes as Minnesota continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases and an increased demand in testing as well as staffing shortages at long-term care facilities and hospitals.