Two more National Guard members die of COVID-19: Pentagon
Two National Guard members died after contracting COVID-19, bringing the total virus-related death toll since the onset of the pandemic to 19 in the military, according to Department of Defense data.
The two service members were an Alabama Air National Guard member and an Army National Guard member from California, a Pentagon spokesperson said, according to the Hill. Their identities have not yet been revealed.
With the pair of deaths, a total of eight National Guard members have died after contracting the coronavirus, and eight reservists have also died from the virus. Three active-duty soldiers have been killed by the coronavirus, including two members of the Army and one Navy sailor.
The Defense Department accrued nearly 226,000 COVID-19 cases since the onset of the pandemic, with 164 civilian deaths, nine military dependent deaths, and 60 contractor deaths, in addition to the 19 deceased military members. The Army maintains the most virus positives of any branch, with nearly 51,000 cases, followed by the Navy, with about 30,000 cases.
The Marine Corps reported roughly 18,000 positives, the National Guard about 18,000, and 975 across other Defense Department agencies.
Roughly 3,300 people have been hospitalized by virus throughout the Pentagon, including around 1,300 military members.
Twenty-six thousand National Guard members from across the country swarmed Washington, D.C., following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot that saw five deaths, including one police officer. Nearly 200 troops stationed in the area tested positive for the virus, leading Maj. Gen. William Walker, commander of the District of Columbia National Guard, to be “deeply troubled” by the spread.
The National Guard on Jan. 21 announced the withdrawal of 15,000 troops following the inauguration of President Biden, an event that was preceded by numerous threats to interrupt the process.
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