CENTENNIAL, Colo. – By order of Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado National Guard is assisting the State Emergency Operations Center and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment with COVID-19 testing at long-term care facilities in multiple Colorado communities.

Nearly 70 Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield explosive Enhanced Response Force Package, based at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, will test approximately 300 patients and staff members at sites in Adams, Broomfield, and El Paso Counties, in order to stop the spread of the virus to these facilities.

“Our Colorado National Guard warriors are trained and equipped to the fight the war on COVID-19,” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh said. “They are providing necessary capability and capacity to help our local and state partners to save lives in senior care facilities across our state.”

The testing schedule is:
– Sunday, April 19, Pike Peak Center in El Paso County
– Tuesday, April 21, Elms Haven Center in Adams County
– Thursday, April 23, Leroy Baker Broomfield Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Broomfield County

More than 250 Colorado National Guard members are currently mobilized to help the State Emergency Operations Center and the City and County of Denver to shelter people in Denver experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak.  25 additional CONG members will activate to support the mission April 20.

About 50 Soldiers are assisting the state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to convert the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, into a 600 bed medical shelter.  The Soldiers began assisting with warehouse operations such as tracking, inventory, and unloading equipment April 15. 

The CONG is also providing planners to support local emergency operation centers in other Colorado communities that the state has designated.

All CONG members have been medically screened and are on Title 32 federally funded orders under state control.

Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen continue to serve in their full-time roles supporting the CONG operation from Joint Force Headquarters in Centennial, Colorado.

Our priorities are to protect our force and families and all Americans, and maintain our wartime readiness while supporting our local, state, and federal partners to prevent the spread of the disease and save lives.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – By order of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, more than 250 Colorado National Guard members have been mobilized and are on State Active Duty to help the State Emergency Operations Center and the City and County of Denver to shelter people in Denver experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The CONG will also provide planners to support local emergency operation centers in other Colorado communities that the state designates.

“These Soldiers and Airmen are Coloradans who live and work in our communities,” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh said. “As a community, we are in this together, and will get through this together.”

The activated CONG members are from the Colorado Air National Guard 140th Wing, Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, and the Colorado Army National Guard 1st Battalion 157th Infantry, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and 193rd Military Police Battalion, Denver, and subordinate units across Colorado.

All of these members have been medically screened.

Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen are also serving in their full-time roles supporting the CONG operation from Joint Force Headquarters in Centennial, Colorado.

Our priorities are to protect our force and families and all Americans, while supporting our local, state, and federal partners to prevent the spread of the disease and save lives.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – The First Colorado National Guard member has tested positive for COVID-19.

The service member is being cared for while in isolation in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Fort Carson Public Health guidelines at the 168th Regiment Regional Training Center of Excellence at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The RTIoE is located outside of the living and work areas of Soldiers, Civilians, and Family members at Fort Carson. 

“Protecting the health of our force, families and our communities is our top priority,” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh said.  “We have taken every precaution, in coordination with our state and federal partners, to isolate our National Guard member to prevent the spread of this disease while ensuring he receives proper medical attention.”

The service member does not require hospitalization at this time.

The National Guard member is serving in the Colorado Army National Guard.

The Soldier is in his 30s and is a male resident of Douglas County.

Details regarding his exposure are under investigation by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.

Currently, by order of Gov. Jared Polis, about 70 Colorado National Guard members have been mobilized and are on State Active Duty in support of the State Emergency Operations Center and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment with medical support and logistics at drive-up COVID-19 testing centers in various communities throughout the state.

The CONG remains Always Ready Always There to support our communities, state and nation.

For information about COVID-19 in Colorado, please visit https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__covid19.colorado.gov&d=DwIFAg&c=sdnEM9SRGFuMt5z5w3AhsPNahmNicq64TgF1JwNR0cs&r=_NtJjyItapHTtR0gQn3C1o3RqsEg3bTbEVZzVQwnWbg&m=6oqZ3vD78n_BNK1lFa_wafNwp0tN3FqyWfR1z2L9ZSg&s=YACEixesrpq-HgYAiPbRmCn-RaPFSAJkECqxmriqz1A&e= .

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – By order of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, about 50 Colorado National Guard members have been mobilized and are on State Active Duty to support the State Emergency Operations Center and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment with medical support and logistics at drive-up COVID-19 testing centers in various communities throughout the state.

The CONG’s 8th Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package are supporting San Miguel County at an appointment only drive-up testing center in Telluride March 17, 2020.

The CONG will provide support in other Colorado communities that the state designates during the next 10 days.

“The National Guard has unique capabilities that can provide our state additional resources to combat COVID-19,” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh said. “Most of the personnel responding now are our state’s resident-trained and equipped experts in biological hazards.”

Both CONG teams are based at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado.  They are armed with personal protective equipment.

Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen are also serving in their full-time roles supporting the CONG operation from Joint Force Headquarters in Centennial, Colorado.

This is a dynamic situation, and the CONG will continue to adapt to ensure that we can accomplish our assigned missions which include assisting with testing and testing support and advising our local and state partners with validated tactics, techniques and procedures for future screening missions in Colorado.

Our first priority is to protect our people while supporting our local and state partners to prevent suffering and save lives.

The CERFP’s mission is to assist local, state and federal agencies to conduct consequence management with capabilities to search and extract casualties, decontaminate patients, provide emergency medical services, and maintain communications, command and control at an incident site.

The CST is a full-time force available 24/7 to support civil authorities at a domestic CBRNE incident site by identifying CBRNE agents/substances, assessing current or projected consequences, advising on response measures, and assisting with appropriate requests for additional follow-on state and federal military forces. Units can also provide immediate response for intentional and unintentional CBRNE or hazardous material releases and natural or manmade disasters that result in, or could result in, catastrophic loss of life or property.

For information about testing locations, hours and operations, please contact the CDPHE HELP Hotline 877-462-2911 or check out the CDPHE website at https://covid19.colorado.gov/

Colorado National Guard specialized teams assist local, state partners with COVID-19 response