KENTUCKY — Fifty members of the Kentucky National Guard have been mobilized by Gov. Andy Beshear to assist the Commonwealth's long-term care facilities as COVID-19 cases reach record-breaking highs. They will be part of 10 different non-clinical support teams spread throughout Kentucky.

Public health districts will send requests for help to Kentucky's emergency management office.

"The Kentucky National Guard is poised to help Long Term Healthcare Facilities across the state who are operating in counties in the red due to COVID-19 saturation," said Lt. Col. Travis Carpenter, Kentucky National Guard Director of Military Support. "Our professional team of service members will operate within agreed upon constraints to help facility leadership free their current employees up to focus on the residents who call the facilities home."

Carpenter said the Guard will take over duties including guest relations, COVID screening, and facility decontaminaion so that healthcare providers can focus on residents.

"Currently we're answering the call for assistance from facilities in Lexington, Louisville, Edmonton, and Hopkinsville," said Brig Gen. Hal Lamberton, Kentucky's Adjutant General. "We recognize the need could come from anywhere in the state, and we will adjust our focus and effort as the requests for help arrive."

Previously, the Guard mobilized in March to help the state's response to the virus, serving in a variety of missions since.

This mission is expected to continue for at least 30 days.

Haeli Spears is a digital producer with Spectrum News 1 KY. She is a recent graduate of the University of Louisville and joined the staff in May, 2020.