CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Clinic is thanking members of the U.S. Air Force who have been helping out caregivers at the Northeast Ohio hospital system over the past week.
"Last week, the Cleveland Clinic welcomed 20 medical personnel from the U.S Air Force including, physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists, who will be aiding in the fight against COVID-19 at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus," Cleveland Clinic officials said in a press release Tuesday afternoon.
The assist from Air Force members allows Clinic caregivers to "take care of more patients in our community and surrounding regions," officials say.
"Our staff is grateful for their support and the relief they are providing during at this time as we have seen the highest number COVID-19 patients in the pandemic over the past few weeks," Cleveland Clinic officials said Tuesday.
President Joe Biden first announced the extra support for hospitals in six states across the country on Jan. 13, as COVID-19 infections skyrocketed as a result of the omicron variant.
Earlier this month, 3News’ Sara Shookman spoke with the Clinic's Chief Medical Operations Dr. Robert Wyllie, who confirmed that 20 U.S. Air Force members were on their way to Northeast Ohio, including 4 doctors, 14 nurses, about half of them with ICU experience, and 2 respiratory therapists. At the time, Dr. Wyllie told Shookman that the group would be in Cleveland for at least 30 days.
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