National Guard troops move into coronavirus-stricken cities across the US

The National Guard has moved into cities across the United States to help with coronavirus relief efforts by distributing food, sanitizing public areas and building temporary hospitals to prepare for an influx in critical patients.  

At least 7,300 National Guard members have been deployed to all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico as of Sunday, when President Donald Trump announced that he would be sending in more troops to the hardest-hit states – New York, California and Washington. 

Trump’s administration emphasized that the deployment of guard members is not martial law, but the president invoked martial language as he discussed the development.  

‘I’m a wartime president,’ Trump said. ‘This is a war — a different kind of war than we’ve ever had.’ 

In New Rochelle, New York, where one of the nation’s first coronavirus clusters broke out early this month, members of Joint Task Force 2 braved snowy weather as they arrived to sanitize and disinfect Temple Young Israel of New Rochelle. 

The synagogue was attended by Lawrence Garbuz, a Manhattan attorney who is believed to have sparked the outbreak in the area after becoming one of the first confirmed coronavirus cases in New York on March 2.  

Members of the Maryland National Guard put up temporary fencing around a section of parking lot that officials said will become a coronavirus screening site on the south side of FedEX Field on Monday in Landover. At least 7,300 National Guard members have been deployed to help with coronavirus relief efforts across all 50 states as of Sunday

Members of the Joint Task Force 2 are seen arriving at Temple Young Israel of New Rochelle on Monday morning

Members of the Joint Task Force 2 are seen arriving at Temple Young Israel of New Rochelle on Monday morning

The synagogue is getting a deep clean after it was attended by Lawrence Garbuz, a Manhattan attorney who is believed to have sparked the outbreak in the New Rochelle area earlier this month

The synagogue is getting a deep clean after it was attended by Lawrence Garbuz, a Manhattan attorney who is believed to have sparked the outbreak in the New Rochelle area earlier this month 

Members of Joint Task Force 2, which is composed of soldiers and airmen from the New York Army and Air National Guard, descended on the worship center on Monday morning armed with face masks and an array of cleaning supplies

Members of Joint Task Force 2, which is composed of soldiers and airmen from the New York Army and Air National Guard, descended on the worship center on Monday morning armed with face masks and an array of cleaning supplies

Specialist Colby Chiverton of the California National Guard stacks boxes of food supplies to be sent out from the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services on Saturday

Specialist Colby Chiverton of the California National Guard stacks boxes of food supplies to be sent out from the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services on Saturday

Florida Army National Guard's members conduct nasal swabs and coronavirus tests at the testing location at Hard Rock Cafe Miami's Super Bowl stadium's parking lot on Monday

Florida Army National Guard’s members conduct nasal swabs and coronavirus tests at the testing location at Hard Rock Cafe Miami’s Super Bowl stadium’s parking lot on Monday

The National Guard stands in formation at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan on Monday after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the site would be turned into a temporary hospital facility

The National Guard stands in formation at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan on Monday after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the site would be turned into a temporary hospital facility

A line of vehicles from the Maryland National Guard vehicles sit outside the Washington Redskins' football stadium Monday

A line of vehicles from the Maryland National Guard vehicles sit outside the Washington Redskins’ football stadium Monday

As of Monday more than 35,200 people in the US have tested positive for coronavirus and 471 have died

As of Monday more than 35,200 people in the US have tested positive for coronavirus and 471 have died 

Members of Joint Task Force 2, which is composed of soldiers and airmen from the New York Army and Air National Guard, descended on the worship center on Monday morning armed with face masks and an array of cleaning supplies.  

The streets of New Rochelle, a city of nearly 80,000 people accounting for at least 180 of New York’s nearly 17,000 coronavirus cases, have been quiet for weeks in the midst of the outbreak. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo imposed a one-mile containment area in the city on March 12 as the National Guard was brought in to help clean public areas and hand out food to affected residents.  

Cuomo’s order prompted the closure of ‘all major gathering places’, including 11 area schools.  

The one-mile radius centers around Temple Young Israel, which Garbuz is believed to have visited twice in the days before he tested positive for COVID-19. 

A one-mile containment area is in effect in New Rochelle as of March 12. The radius centers around Temple Young Israel, which Garbuz is believed to have visited twice in the days before he tested positive for COVID-19. Members of Joint Task Force 2 are seen arriving at the synagogue on Monday to sanitize and disinfect it

A one-mile containment area is in effect in New Rochelle as of March 12. The radius centers around Temple Young Israel, which Garbuz is believed to have visited twice in the days before he tested positive for COVID-19. Members of Joint Task Force 2 are seen arriving at the synagogue on Monday to sanitize and disinfect it

National Guard members are seen unpacking canned goods at a food distribution center

National Guard members are seen unpacking canned goods at a food distribution center 

A crew of firemen with the Bridge City Fire Department in Texas receive orders from a National Guard officer

A crew of firemen with the Bridge City Fire Department in Texas receive orders from a National Guard officer

Members of the Iowa National Guard are seen coordinating relief efforts in the state last week

Members of the Iowa National Guard are seen coordinating relief efforts in the state last week

Trump on Sunday issued disaster declarations for New York, California and Washington state on Sunday, pledging to fund National Guard activities in each state through the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA. 

‘The federal government has deployed hundreds of tons of supplies from our national stocks pile to locations with the greatest need in order to assist in those areas,’ Trump said. 

‘Through FEMA, the federal government will be funding 100 percent of the cost of deploying national guard units to carry out approved missions to stop the virus while those governors remain in command.

‘We’ll be following them and we hope they can do the job and I think they will. I spoke with all three of the governors today, just a little while ago and they’re very happy with what we’re going to be doing.’ 

Trump also said Sunday he’d ordered FEMA to ship mobile hospital centers to all three states, along with supplies such as gloves, hospital beds, N95 masks and gowns. 

New York has the most cases out of any state, with 17,000 confirmed and 153 deaths. Washington has more than 2,000 cases and 95 deaths, and California has more than 1,500 cases and 35 deaths.  

Members of the Maryland National Guard control entry to a section of parking lot on the south side of FedEX Field that will become a clinic for health screenings in response to the global coronavirus pandemic on Monday

Members of the Maryland National Guard control entry to a section of parking lot on the south side of FedEX Field that will become a clinic for health screenings in response to the global coronavirus pandemic on Monday

Army National Guard arrive at the Jacob Javits Center on Monday after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to convert the space in Manhattan into a field hospital

Army National Guard arrive at the Jacob Javits Center on Monday after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to convert the space in Manhattan into a field hospital

Troops receive orders inside the Javits Center, which will be outfitted with 1,000 hospital beds

Troops receive orders inside the Javits Center, which will be outfitted with 1,000 hospital beds 

A National Guard member wearing protective gear over their face is seen outside FedEx Field in Maryland on Monday

A National Guard member wearing protective gear over their face is seen outside FedEx Field in Maryland on Monday

Dozens of troops gathered at FedEx Field to set up the remote coronavirus screening center

Dozens of troops gathered at FedEx Field to set up the remote coronavirus screening center 

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