National Guard Assisting Pasadena Staff at Long-Term Health Facility

One additional person has died from complications associated with the Coronavirus according to local health officials and 30 additional cases of the virus were reported on Thursday, bringing the total cases to 293 and the death toll to 29.

Meanwhile an eight-member National Guard team is assisting at one local long term health care facility that has seen a severe outbreak of the virus.

On Sunday, the 297 ASMC (Area Support Medical Company) National Guard Unit arrived at Brighton Care Facility on Fair Oaks Avenue.

According to state health officials, there have been at least 63 cases of the virus.

Members of the 297 ASMC will aid the administrative staff.

According to Lt. Col. Thomas Keegan, Public Affairs Director,

The eight member team consists of a physician’s assistant, or a registered nurse, five medics, an administrative sergeant and a support member.

The team’s typical shift is from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., but they will work more if needed.

“We are supplementing and assisting as long as they need us,” Keegan told Pasadena Now.

Governors in all 50 states have activated components of the military and the guard to assist in the response to the pandemic. respond to, mitigate and control the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Military Times.

Pasadena has shown a marked decrease in fatalities over the past two days. Yesterday, Pasadena health officials reported no deaths.

The welcome news comes as LA County announced that the virus is now the leading cause of death in LA County.

Since April 12 an average of 44 people have died per day from the Coronavirus.

“This is significantly higher than the five people who die each day from the flu and 31 people who die from coronary heart disease,” LA County Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

The LA County Department of Public Health confirmed 68 new deaths and 1,081 new cases of the Coronavirus on Thursday.