The Ohio National Guard and the Ohio State Defense Force are scaling back their emergency COVID-19 response.

Beginning in March of 2020 at the direction of Governor Mike DeWine, members of the Ohio National Guard were deployed to help with the COVID-19 crisis.

Over the past 16 months, more than 4,000 members have deployed to complete about 70 different missions across the state.

These missions included receiving, packing, and distributing over 150 million pounds of food and groceries to 2.9 million Ohioans, providing temporary medical staff to more than 30 long term care facilities, processing pandemic unemployment claims, and eventually providing more than 360,000 COVID-19 vaccines across the state.

At the height of the pandemic, around 1,000 members were deployed to support missions. That number was down to 180 members as of July 19th.

"In the tradition of the minuteman, each Soldier and Airman who contributed to the missions while helping their fellow Ohioans did so with little or no notice. It is part of our organization's DNA to always be ready," said Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general in a press release. "The COVID-19 response mission has affirmed and strengthened their commitment to support this great state and its people."

Harris directed the task force overseeing the COVID-19 related missions to continue to scale back.

By July 30th, the goal is to have only 40 active personnel.

Those who remain active will continue to provide logistics and vaccination support.

Federal funding for this mission will continue until the end of September.