BOSTON — Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has activated the state’s National Guard to help with the state’s response to the worsening novel coronavirus crisis.
Up to 2,000 members of the National Guard will be assisting in mitigating the effects of the global pandemic. They will be tasked with supporting requests from state agencies for equipment, logistics, warehousing, and related duties.
According to state law, the governor has the power to call upon the National Guard “in the case of public catastrophe or natural disaster,” among other scenarios. Members of the National Guard are then also able to exercise the powers of police officers. Guardsmen will only fully learn about their assignments on Friday night.
The Massachusetts National Guard, which has 8,200 members, is regularly assigned to events like the Boston Marathon and Fourth of July and routinely helps out during state emergencies - including the Merrimack Valley explosions and the winter storms that wreaked havoc in New England in 2015.
Activating the National Guard does not mean the state will go into lock down nor that we will be living under Martial Law - all it means is the state will have added manpower to help fight the virus.
The last time they were called on to help out in Massachusetts for a pandemic was during the Spanish Flu in 1918.
“Activating the National Guard will help support our Administration’s efforts to keep residents safe and secure during the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The expertise of the Massachusetts National Guard will benefit our communities with logistical support and other assistance as we continue to respond to this crisis.”
Local cities and towns as well as state agencies should submit requests for support through MEMA.
Across the country, more than 2,000 National Guard members, including soldiers and airmen, have been deployed to at least 27 states to help fight the COVID-19 spread. The head of the U.S. National Guard told reporters on Thursday those numbers could double by the weekend, depending on developments with the disease across the world as well as in the U.S.
MORE COVERAGE:
- 25 Investigates: Lawmakers, community leaders call on Baker to order shelter-in-place in Mass.
- State leaders pushing to allow restaurants to sell your favorite alcoholic drinks with takeout orders
- Former Biogen employee diagnosed with COVID-19 under investigation for defying travel ban, going to China
- How is the coronavirus outbreak affecting the housing market?
- 60 quarantined at assisted living facility after resident tests positive for coronavirus
- Gov. Baker activates Massachusetts National Guard to help in COVID-19 response
- Can taking a certain type of high blood pressure medication worsen COVID-19 infections?
- BPD: One person seriously injured in crash in Charlestown, no citations issued yet