According to the Wall Street Journal, nearly 200 members of the National Guard who were deployed to Washington, DC in the run-up to the inauguration of President Joe Biden have tested positive for the coronavirus.
More than 25,000 Guard members from all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia were deployed around DC as a show of force in the wake of a domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol on January 6th to stop the certification of Electoral College votes.
The Guard stayed in cramped quarters, at first sleeping on the floors in the Capitol complex. Photos of the troops show many wearing masks, although there were some exceptions. The National Guard stated that wearing a mask was a requirement while in public.
The Guard members were screened for symptoms prior to deployment to Washington, but in most states, they were not tested unless they showed symptoms of the virus.
With only 7,000 Guard staying in DC after the inauguration, most will be traveling back to their homes. This outbreak raises fears that they will spread the disease back in their home states.