Texas National Guard to help with state's COVID-19 response

AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas National Guard will help with drive-thru testing for coronavirus in the state.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday the deployment of three National Guard Joint Task Force Brigades.

At least 27 people with COVID-19 in Texas have died while more than 2,000 have tested positive, the Texas Department of State Health Services said Saturday. Officials said that more than 25,000 people in the state have been tested.

Abbott said he's ordered the guardsman to initially focus on assisting drive-thru testing sites and bolstering the state’s health care infrastructure with medical providers, equipment and supplies.

Abbott said that over the past week, Guardsmen have practiced erecting and running drive-thru testing site locations alongside medical staff to make sure it's a well-coordinated process.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.