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The army intensifies its efforts in the fight against Covid-19

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Number: 7901

The Services Unit from the ‘El Empecinado’ Base helping with disinfection

The Services Unit from the ‘El Empecinado’ Base helping with disinfection

Military personnel identify two suspects.

Military personnel identify two suspects.

The 47th ‘Palma’ Infantry Regiment seals off beds, as well as other items.

The 47th ‘Palma’ Infantry Regiment seals off beds, as well as other items.

As the days have passed, the efforts have intensified in support of the civilian population and in collaboration with law enforcement. The majority of the work done by the Army involves disinfecting centres, helping the elderly or patrolling the streets.

In this context, a section of the 1st Engineers Regiment was deployed, on Monday the 23rd of March, to the town of Aranda de Duero (Burgos), with the aim of heightening security and gaining greater control of the situation. The unit’s staff carried out foot patrols in the town centre, as well as covering different routes in light vehicles around the area. They then proceeded to identify places which could be a concentration point for people, focusing their efforts on nursing homes.

On the same day, the 47th ‘Palma’ Infantry Regiment, which is part of the Balearic Island General Command, helped transport the furniture and beds from the Palma Bay hotel to the places set up for patient isolation. In total, throughout the day, they set up 250 rooms.

The ‘Albuera’ Tactical Group, from the 16th ‘Canary Islands’ Brigade, continues with their work supporting the ‘Balmis’ operation. During the weekend, they identified two suspicious individuals in the town of Arona, in Tenerife. In addition, the Logistical Group from the Brigade received material with which to make masks.

The Army lends a hand to nursing homes

The nursing homes and centres for the elderly are suffering enormously from the consequences of Covid-19. For this reason, units from the Army are offering their support by disinfecting these places. This is the case for the Services Unit from the ‘El Empecinado’ Base, which moved to the ‘Casa de la Beneficencia’ in Valladolid, where more than 150 elderly people live.

Once they were there, they disinfected the centre with the support of the Military Emergencies Unit. The unit also contributed by helping the carers separate the residents in order to avoid new infections.

Supporting elderly soldiers and family members

For his part, the Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, through the Division of Equality and Social Support to Staff, made phone calls on the 21st and 22nd of March to elderly soldiers and family members who may be finding themselves in a vulnerable situation or an isolated position as a consequence of the current Covid-19 health crisis.

Over the course of the two days, contact was established with more than 1,400 people across the whole country and their needs were met through a system of continuing support and monitoring.