The military has deployed medical personnel to two Indian Health Service Hospitals - the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, N.M., and the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility in Chinle, Ariz. - that have been joy hard-hit by COVID-19. "We consider this obligation sacred and will work tirelessly to alleviate the burden of the coronavirus on the Navajo Nation," Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Army North, said in a statement Dec. 16. About 25 Navy Rapid Rural Response Team medical personnel have deployed to the sites. Elements of the Army Reserve's 377th Theater Sustainment Command from New Orleans; the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command from San Antonio, Texas; and the 1st Infantry Division's Sustainment Brigade from Fort Riley, Kansas, are providing backup for the medical teams, according to an Army North news release. The deployments are overseen by Army North at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Indian Health Service. The first Pfizer vaccinations began on the reservation this week. The Navajo Nation reported a total of 20,095 positive cases of COVID-19 and 731 deaths on the reservation as of mid-week, which extends over parts of Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. The Nation has extended its stay-at-home lockdown order through Dec. 28. (Source: Military.com 12/17/20) The 377th Theater Sustainment Command serves as the lead logistics element in the U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) coronavirus response. It is the largest 2-star command within the Defense Department. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/12/17/navy-medical-personnel-deploy-navajo-nation-assist-covid-19-cases.html
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