National Guard Called For School Covid Testing & Prison Support

MASSACHUSETTS — Gov. Charlie Baker has called in up to 450 National Guard members Tuesday to help assist in COVID-19 testing in schools and departments of correction across the state.

Up to 200 National Guard members will assist with testing in K-12 public schools, the Baker Administration said. Staffing shortages are causing serious testing delays across many school districts, and extra testing is needed.

With training beginning this week, guard members are expected to help administer tests in public schools Monday.

"We are grateful that the National Guard has stepped up once again, as they have throughout the COVID-19 response, to serve the Commonwealth where needed," said Governor Charlie Baker in a statement.

Massachusetts developed a COVID-19 testing program to help students remain in school safely. Over 2,200 schools have signed up to take part in three types of testing: test and stay, symptomatic testing, and pooled testing.

While results from pooled testing show positivity rates of less than 1%, test and stay has saved approximately 25,000 school days for students who would have had to quarantine at home without it this school year.

250 National Guard members will come in to help with a potential staffing shortage at state prisons.

The shortages are anticipated after Baker set a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for all executive department employees, including the Department of Corrections.

Any executive department employee who doesn't provide proof of vaccination by Oct. 17 will face disciplinary action and could be fired.

"While we are overall pleased with the progress we are seeing with Commonwealth employees submitting vaccination attestations, we will take whatever steps are necessary to safely run all correctional facilities," Baker said in a statement.

The National Guard has already been sent to 13 Massachusetts school districts to help students to and from school due to a national bus driver shortage.

The Baker Administration says guard members will likely be driving buses until December.

More on Patch:

• Bus Shortage Has 11th Graders Using Party Bus With Stripper Poles
• MA National Guard Called Up Amid Bus Driver Shortage: Patch PM
• Baker Requires Executive Department Employees To Be Vaccinated

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