Updated, March 24, 2020
More than a dozen Vermont National Guard members arrived in Humvees and other military vehicles in front of the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Emergency Department Tuesday afternoon.
A Guard medical unit is setting up a facility to provide additional medical care, according to Capt. Mike Arcovitch, a National Guard spokesperson. Medics with the Northfield-based 186th Brigade Support Battalion will set up tents in the hospital lot, he said.
“We’re sending medical personnel there to assist and augment the hospital in whatever way they are needed,” Arcovitch said.“We’ll be prepared to receive patients as soon as they need us and for as long as they need us,” he said.
Members quickly got to work setting up mobile generators and installing tents on wooden platforms beside four drive-up aide stations under construction. The little M.A.S.H. unit — Mobile Army Surgical Hospital — was expected to be operational for “routine medical care” by the end of the day, Maj. Joseph Phelan said.
How many and what types of patients would be seen at the overflow center would be up to ER administration, he said.
Vermont is also preparing for a surge in new COVID-19 patients by asking the National Guard to help it establish three overflow medical facilities around the state.
Gov. Phil Scott announced the move at a press conference Monday as the state braces for a sharp increase in infections and patients. The number of positive coronavirus cases jumped from 29 on Friday to 75 on Monday; five people have died.
“While we hope we don’t have to use them, we must be prepared for this possibility,” Scott said.
The governor did not describe the locations during the press conference, but Arcovitch later confirmed that the Guard has been instructed to begin setting up medical facilities at three locations across the state:
- University of Vermont’s Gutterson Fieldhouse, Burlington. The 4,035-seat hockey arena is the largest indoor arena in the state.
- Collins Perley Sports & Fitness Center, Saint Albans. Owned by Bellows Free Academy, the multi-use facility sits on 53 acres just off Interstate 89.
- Barre Civic Center, Barre. A 1,856-seat multipurpose arena is used for high school basketball championships, among other events.
Arcovitch didn’t know how long it would take to set up medical services inside the buildings but said the task could be accomplished swiftly.
“It shouldn’t take too long to set up cots and have everything ready to go,” Arcovitch said.
Last week, the Guard had called up just seven members to active duty following Scott’s emergency declaration: two medical planners and five logistics specialists to help with distribution of supplies from the strategic national stockpile in Colchester.
By Tuesday, that number will be up to 45, Arcovitch said.
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The governor invites overflowing hospitals by refusing to order strict measures to stem the exponentially growing spread of the virus. What does he expect when he refuses strict measures?
Critical tasks are (1) to require nearly every Vermonter to stay home to immediately stop the spread of the virus from person to person and (2) to care for those who fall ill, until mass testing is available and the exponential spread is halted.
Here are some things the governor, as commander in chief, can order the Vermont Guard to do now:
1. Enforce strict self-isolation throughout the state with exceptions only for front line workers.
2. Keep hospitals and medical offices fully supplied with protective equipment.
3. Acquire test kits and laboratory reagents for mass testing all Vermonters.
4. Administer tests while in personal protective clothing.
4. Acquire or build respirators.
5. Oversee fair distribution of food, supplies, and protective materials.
6. Safely check in on the elderly and those with medical conditions.
7. Build decent safe housing for the homeless. Use the 44 acres where homes were torn down near the airport.
8. Permanently cancel all F-35 training flights and other Guard training activity for senseless wars for oil and focus the Guard exclusively on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
9. Interact with, supply, and provide information and resources to individual Vermont families around the state.
IN Burlington and in Rutland and in the Southern part of the state we have vacant COLLEGE DORMS that would seem to be pretty available for set up as low demand hospital like units. Beds are there. BATHROOMS are there (running to the bathroom at Gutterson or Barre?? yikes!! Even a TV outlet and probably web access. Why are we not grabbing those spots… probably even AC since this is going to be with us for a good while. COTS ?? REALLY?? Kinda WWII mentality….??
James by the way you use the word acquire you have not been in the military. Are you asking the guard to go take some from other states? And build ventilators? Seriously? They are combat forces not medical equipment manufacturing companies. People in those organizations spend years training then know what they are about, stop making crazy demands from a point of ignorance and from the privilege of a civilian.
James you and all your guard hating friends in this state would love to see the guard enforce a strict self-isolation plan that way when a 19 year old tells you to stay home you can make a big deal and call it a hate crime. And as always thank you for bring up the f-35. You’ll be thankful for our guard members and that jet when this stuff really hits and for the fact that the members who jobs depend on that jet are the ones also making sure Vermonters stay healthy
*no one*
*VT National Guard is mentioned*
Vermonters over the age of 60 who moved here after retirement and probably like Bernie own a second summer home: ITS THE F-35s FAULT THE VIRUS WAS CAUSED BY THE NOSIE AND NON EXISTENT NUCLEAR BOMB. SHAME ON THE BABY KILLERS!!!
VT Guard members: We’re literary just trying to set up a tent so we can test people and help our state out…..