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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a name="_Hlk75352707"></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5277in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D768FA.3715D790"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">June 24, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><b><u><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">Gov. Little establishes timeline for Idaho National Guard COVID-19 Task Force draw down<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced today the Idaho National Guard’s COVID-19 Task Force will begin wrapping up operations this month as the impacts
of the pandemic continue to improve in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">The Guard’s task force has completed more than 70 unique mission assignments ranging from administrative and logistical support, COVID-19 testing and screening,
administering vaccines, decontaminating long-term care facilities and other support to Idaho’s health district offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities as well as partnering with Native American tribes.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">In addition, Guard efforts have facilitated nearly 350,000 vaccines administered to Idaho’s citizens.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">“The Idaho National Guard has played a critical role in saving lives and reducing the impact of COVID-19 on Idaho citizens. The Guard’s support was truly a
gamechanger in the darkest months of our pandemic fight,” Governor Little said. “As a result of the Guard’s efforts, and the efforts of all our frontline and healthcare workers, Idaho has remained one of the most open states throughout the global pandemic.”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">“This has been a great opportunity for the members of the Idaho National Guard to give back to the communities throughout the state, who provide us with such
a tremendous amount of support,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho. “I’m extremely proud of the incredible efforts our Soldiers and Airmen put forth to ensure the health and safety of the citizens of Idaho.”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">In March of 2020, Governor Little authorized an initial activation of 50 Guard personnel to immediately respond to requests for assistance from food banks
throughout the state and provide storage and distribution of critical PPE across Idaho during the early days of the battle against COVID-19.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Since then, the Governor has increased that number to more than 300 personnel serving on the task force.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Health districts, healthcare facilities, and other entities currently receiving support from the Idaho National Guard’s COVID-19 Task Force can expect to see
a draw down of Guard personnel over the next two weeks, with support concluding on July 9.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Idaho has been open longer than almost every other state and was one of only a handful of states with the fewest COVID-19 restrictions. The COVID-19 emergency
declaration will remain in place to continue to support health care and local jurisdictions impacted by COVID-19. The emergency declaration is not related to restrictions on businesses and activities, and Idaho remains fully open today. Maintaining the emergency
declaration allows the state to continue coordinating with stakeholders through the emergency operations plan, utilize the disaster emergency account to pay expenses incurred in responding to the virus, and contract with the federal government to secure critical
funding for local jurisdictions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk75352707"></span>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">The Idaho National Guard’s motto is “always ready, always there.” It is a permanent fixture in the community and always a consideration when the Governor is measuring his response to emergencies
and disasters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Callihan, Communications Director<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">208-559-3920 or
</span><a href="mailto:Emily.Callihan@gov.idaho.gov"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Emily.Callihan@gov.idaho.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">--<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
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