President Biden has ordered the Pentagon to prepare 1,000 military medical personnel to deploy to hospitals across the country as the omicron variant spreads rapidly. They will mobilize in January and February, the White House said.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters it is not yet known where the service members will come from or where they’re going, but he did say they are likely to be active duty personnel.

About 240 military medical professionals are already deployed to hospitals in Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico and Wisconsin, as Military.com noted.

Several states have also activated National Guard members to help at understaffed hospitals.

Navy photo by Deidre Smith