• More than 10,000 National Guard personnel have been mobilized to combat the coronavirus.
  • About two weeks ago, there were only about 400 National Guard members active in only six states. Now they are active in all 50 states, three territories, and Washington, DC.
  • Guard members are involved in a number of different missions, ranging from supporting medical testing activities to distributing food.

More than 10,000 US National Guard troops have been called up across the US to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, which has already infected over 60,000 people and claimed more than 800 lives.

On March 13, the number of Guard members that had been mobilized in response to the virus was around 400. Within a matter of days, the number had doubled.

As of Wednesday, there are approximately 10,700 National Guard personnel responding to the coronavirus in all 50 states, in three territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands), and in the District of Columbia.

Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, the National Guard Bureau chief, has told reporters that he expects the demand for National Guard to continue to grow. He recently said that he expects there to eventually be "tens of thousands" of National Guard personnel supporting the coronavirus response.

The Guard has around 450,000 members.

"With COVID-19, it's like we have 54 different hurricanes hitting every state, every territory, and the District of Columbia - some are Category 5, some are Category 3, and some are Category 1," Lengyel has said of the situation the country is facing.

Current National Guard missions include supporting testing facilities, meeting logistics and transportation needs, and disinfecting and cleaning public spaces, among other activities. Guard personnel have been delivering food, manning call centers, and supporting emergency management agencies. Many Guard members are also supporting local medical professionals.

U.S. Army Spc. Kinnis White, a Soldier assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 1-148th Infantry Regiment – 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, stocks shelves at the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank in Toledo, Ohio, March 24, 2020

Foto: U.S. Army Spc. Kinnis White, a Soldier assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 1-148th Infantry Regiment – 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, stocks shelves at the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank in Toledo, Ohio, March 24, 2020 Source: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Kregg York

The National Guard also has the ability to serve in a law enforcement capacity if necessary, but Lengyel has made it a point to stress that "there's no plan to use the National Guard in Title 32 or state active duty status or in any other status to do quarantine or enforce shelter-in-place operations."

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon Tuesday, he said that "Americans should know the National Guard has their backs throughout this crisis. We are in this together and we'll get through this together."

The coronavirus that first appeared in China has infected more than 440,000 people worldwide and killed nearly 20,000 people. The National Guard, as of Tuesday morning, had reported 26 cases within its ranks. Lengyel told reporters "we expect as well that number will continue to grow."

"My No. 1 priority is taking care of our National Guard soldiers, airmen and their families," the chief said in a recent statement. "The readiness of our force will be critical to the success of this nation's COVID-19 response efforts."

Update: This post has been updated to reflect the latest numbers and activities of mobilized National Guard forces.