FREDERIKSTED — While on a conference call with The Chief National Guard Bureau, Brigadier General Kodjo Knox-Limbacker led a staff walk-through of the 210th Regional Training Institute and the dining facility, at the Estate Bethlehem compound on Monday.
The Virgin Islands Department of Health is the lead agency for the COVID-19.
Currently, there is no request for support made to the VING. However, preparations to provide a facility to support VIDOH COVID-19 requirements are under consideration.
“It was good for us to understand the needs of our health partners from both the private and public stakeholders to understand where the needs are,” Knox-Limbacker said. “Moreover, where we can help from a facility and personnel standpoint, and what equipment we have for transportation to facilitate the necessary care for personnel within our territory.”
The VING anticipates a request from Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. to the Department of Defense to use VING federal facilities to support COVID-19 requirements.
The VING is preparing to provide drivers to operate military vehicles to transport patients.
“Between the Department of Health and Department of Human Services, they will be the ones providing medical care to those infected,” said Col. Jean Collins, deputy state surgeon for the VING.
The VING is postured to support the transportation of commodities, personnel, and first responders in response to COVID-19 requirements.
The visitors were able to see our vehicles, specifically the HMMWV Ambulance with Advanced Armor Protection or the HMMWV M997A3, which will be used to transport patients. Representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Virgin Islands Territory Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center, the United States Public Health Services working for the Centers for Disease Control, and AreoMD made-up the visitors who toured the facility.
“This was an evaluation of the facility to see if they could support the layout for those individuals that become effected and need medical attention,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Pete Stapleton, commandant for the 210th RTI.
