INDIANAPOLIS - Governor Eric has announced a plan to address a surge in COVID-19 cases at Indiana's long-term care facilities that involves the mobilization of the National Guard.

The measure was announcement during the Governor’s weekly coronavirus news conference. He stated 75 percent of the deaths attributed to COVID-19 involved people 70 years of age or older, adding about 55 percent of those deaths are taking place in long-term care facilities.

The Governor and his team are putting forth plans to send the National Guard to assist with testing, the reporting of test results, the screening of employees, and simple infection control practices. Additional clinical staff will be hired and long-term care facilities will be getting more PPE, N95 masks, gowns and other items.

The Governor believes this plan will help decrease the surge in the states uptick in COVID-19 cases, as well as control the spread at long-term care facilities. In addition, the goal is to help lessen the number of people admitted to hospitals for treatment of the coronavirus.

The long-term facility plan is set to begin on November 1st.