Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - After two months of service helping the City of Buffalo at Erie County Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, an approximately 20-member clinical Department of Defense Military Medical Team wrapped up their time served on Friday.
As part of their send-off, ECMC held a press conference on Friday to recognize, honor and thank those service members for their tireless work in the two months deployed in Buffalo.
As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on staffing and operations at ECMC, the 20 active-duty members of the U.S. Navy were deployed to Buffalo to the hospital to provide clinical support to the frontline caregivers. The Military Medical Team arrived in Buffalo on Jan. 7 and went into full operation at ECMC on Jan. 11. Nearly two-and-a-half weeks later, ECMC requested an extension of the MMT mission at the hospital.
This group was the first to be deployed by the Department of Defense in support of civilian hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before coming to Buffalo, the group had been deployed to other hospitals in Lafayette, Louisiana and Missoula, Montana.
The Military Medical Team was deployed to Buffalo on Dec. 31, 2021 when New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the state's Winter Surge Plan 2.0.
All 20 members will now be allowed to return home and return to their families.