photo by: John Hanna/AP Photo

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions from reporters during a news conference, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, at the Statehouse in Topeka.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has deployed 80 nonmedical soldiers and airmen from the Kansas National Guard to support the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s testing sites across the state and assist with the shipment and delivery of personal protective equipment, the governor’s office announced Friday.

Additionally, Kelly engaged the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Health Administration to provide limited acute care and intensive care beds for temporary medical treatment of noneligible VA individuals to help reduce the strain on Kansas hospitals.

“We are at an inflection point with the Omicron variant, and the strain on our hospitals is taking a toll on our health care workers and patients – all while the virus continues to spread rapidly through our communities,” Kelly said in the news release. “The majority of hospital patients are unvaccinated. Please do your part by getting vaccinated and boosted today.”

Military medical professionals in the Kansas Guard, already filling positions at medical facilities in their communities, will stay in their respective communities. The nonmedical soldiers and airmen will be on federal orders for 31 days to assist the additional efforts.

Since Wednesday, Kansas reported 20,806 new cases of COVID-19, 29 new deaths and 92 new hospitalizations.

Kelly signed a state disaster declaration on Jan. 6 to alleviate hospital staffing shortages along with two executive orders to temporarily suspend certain restrictions and regulations for adult care home and hospital staff.