The Pentagon has authorized up to 25,000 members of the National Guard to help secure the opening.
The test for National Guard members sent to DC is “case-dependent,” but it is not widely required, the spokesman said, noting that there are some screening procedures, such as temperature checks.
“Men and women who enter the Guard are examined upon departure from their individual states and upon arrival at the DC Armory in accordance with CDC guidelines. Temperature checks and screening questions are available; masks and social distance are required where the mission permits “Guard said in a statement to CNN Friday.
The National Guard encourages testing of the coronavirus for personnel symptomatic or exposed to the coronavirus.
But, as CNN has consistently reported, the coronavirus can be spread by people who have no symptoms and, without the test, it is impossible to know if any of the thousands of Guard members are carrying the virus. And they are being implemented with few warnings.
Troops are also arriving in large numbers, as the United States had its 14 deadliest pandemic days. More than 3.2 million new cases were reported in the first two weeks of 2021, according to data from John Hopkins University.
Earlier this week, Ohio National Guard Major General John Harris expressed his concern about the deployment of the National Guard in his state.
“I’m just going to remind you – that these National Guard people we are bringing on duty were doing something else just a few days ago and they had no idea they were going to come here,” said Harris during a news conference. “Bringing these people together collectively – is a real concern for us.”
The National Guard follows the guidance issued by the Department of Defense in April that urged personnel “to follow CDC guidelines on the use of facial cloth coverings in public environments or where other measures of social distance are difficult to maintain”. Additional measures are being taken to ensure the safety of members of the Guard, including adequate personal protective equipment and housing arrangements that allow for distance, a National Guard spokesman told CNN.
But it would be difficult to maintain Covid-19’s social distance precautions if there is an event similar to the Capitol riot last week, a spokesman noted.
National Guard troops deployed at the state level by governors follow the health guidelines for that particular state, including the coronavirus test protocol. As the District of Columbia is not a state, the role of governor is assumed by the Secretary of the Army under the Federal Department of Defense.