Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday he has put the California National Guard on alert to help protect communities and fight the spread of COVID-19.

In the statement, Newsom said the troops should be prepared to perform humanitarian missions such as food distribution and supply.

“As Californians make sacrifices over the coming weeks and stay home, we are immensely grateful for medical providers, first-responders and National Guard personnel who are assisting those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19,” Newsom said in the statement.

The statement said the Guard’s roles would be “consistent with duties routinely performed by the California National Guard during natural disasters and other emergencies within the state.”

