Gov. Greg Abbott’s office announced the deployment of additional medical staff on Thursday to respond to COVID-19 in Texas medical facilities and nursing homes.

According to Abbott’s office, the Texas Department of State Health Services will be deploying an additional 2,500 medical staff to support healthcare facilities in Texas, including hospitals and nursing homes. The total number of medical personnel deployed across the state will now reach 8,100. Additional medical equipment will also be provided by the DSHS to medical facilities that requested items such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, heart monitors, IV pumps, feeding pumps, and hospital beds.

Prior to today’s announcement, 5,600 medical personnel, consisting mostly of nurses and respiratory therapists, had been authorized for deployment.

Abbott’s office says today’s move follows the Governor's directive on August 9 that allowed DSHS to utilize staffing agencies to provide out-of-state medical personnel to Texas health care facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Governor’s office, the additional deployment of personnel will be fully funded by the State through September 30.