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Department of Defense sends assistance to Lansing Sparrow Hospital

Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital is welcoming military medical personnel, the team is assisting with the health system’s fourth COVID-19 surge.

Saturday morning, more than 25 members of the U.S. Army arrived at the hospital. There, they will be supporting the hospital’s healthcare staff for the next thirty days.

Colonel Dale Jackson works with state authorities to coordinate Department of Defense response in the area. He says the staff at Sparrow has been struggling since November to keep up with demand.

“Some of the employees here have been working tirelessly, day after day, by us coming in we can continue to help the hospital care for the community, open up some additional bed, make sure the services are there.”

Hospital administrators plan to ask for an extension to the team’s stay before the end of the month.

As WKAR's Bilingual Latinx Stories Reporter, Michelle reports in both English and Spanish on stories affecting Michigan's Latinx community. Michelle is also the voice of WKAR's weekend news programs.