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Kemp calling on Georgia National Guard to help stop spread of virus

Governor Kemp deployed up to 2,000 troops this weekend.

ATLANTA — The National Guard is just one of the resources Gov. Brian Kemp is deploying in response to COVID-19.

Governor Kemp deployed up to 2,000 troops this weekend. Even though the Georgia National Guard Joint Office Command Center isn’t full like it normally is, they’re still working alongside the governor to combat the coronavirus.

“We’ve responded to a couple mission assignments thus far and we’re just preparing to support wherever we need to plug in,” said Brigadaire General Dwayne Wilson, the director of the joint staff.

He said right now, they have about 20 troops working at the Georgia Emergency Management headquarters as liaison officers or helping with planning, but they’re prepared to deploy up to the 2,000 that Kemp has called up.

“We’re pretty robust as far as capability so we have a lot of logistics capability. We have a lot of transportation capability. We have a lot of general man power capability,” said General Wilson.

RELATED: Tracking COVID-19: Georgia Coronavirus Interactive map

Wilson said they can help with a wide-range of missions, but one that’s also important to them is fighting false information that people are sharing on the Internet.

“The CDC, our state Department of Public Health, the Governor’s Office, GEMA, those are all great places that provide the right kind of links,” said Wilson.

He said right now, there’s no timeline on how long troops are deployed, but they’re priority is to keep an eye on the COVID-19 situation, and protect people.

“We’re prepared to do what we need as an organization, the Georgia DoD, to provide the support required for GEMA, the governor, and the citizens,” said General Wilson.

at 11Alive, we’re focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here: www.11Alive.com/Coronavirus

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