National Guard Cleans Facilities

Gov. Brian Kemp activated National Guardsmen to help with the COVID-19 pandemic, and one job the guard was tasked with was to clean every nursing home and assisted living location in the state.

The national guard came to The Retreat and cleaned and sanitized throughout the facility, then moved on to the hospital and the doctor’s office.

Jan Gaston, hospital administrator, said the guardsmen were excited to clean the hospital, as it was the first one they had done. Mrs. Gaston stressed there is no COVID-19 in the nursing home, and the help from the guard is much appreciated. After the guardsmen finish all the facilities in the state, they will start over, with the expectation they will return to Jasper next month.

Six individuals worked at a time, in their haz-mat suits, and they were limited to 90 minutes at a time. Some 15 individuals were here. Six would work, then they would be sprayed down and have a chance to relax while six others went in and cleaned.

Jasper County is listed as having 18 COVID-19 cases and no deaths, although that number seems to fluctuate. Health department officials said that if the number goes down it is because it was mistakenly put on the wrong county. It is a cumulative count, with none coming off, presumably. Local officials have expressed concerns that it takes a long time for cases to hit the Public Health’s website.