Over 150 National Guard troops for Biden inauguration test positive for coronavirus

Over 150NationalGuard troopsdeployed to Washington, D.C., to provide security for President Joe Biden's inauguration have tested positive for the coronavirus, a USofficial said on Friday.

The USgovernment imposed unprecedented security measures in the city following the deadly January6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, including fences topped with razor wire and checkpoints manned byNationalGuard.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the number ofNationalGuardtroops who tested positive could rise but was still a small fraction of the more than 25,000 troops deployed in the city over the past few days.

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The United States reported more than 4,000 daily deaths from COVID-19 for a second consecutive day on Thursday, bringing the cumulative number of USlives lost to almost 410,000.

The military has said arrangements are being made for thousands of troops to return home, and that about 15,000 are expected to leave Washington within the next five to 10 days.

Some 7,000NationalGuardpersonnel are expected to stay at least through the end of the month, officials have said. A smaller number of troops could stay longer.

Meanwhile, adecision to turn a chilly underground parking garage into an overnight billet forNationalGuardtroops in Washington to protectBiden's inauguration has stirred an uproar.

Anumber of the 25,000 troops standingguardaround the US Capitol in recent days in the wake of theinsurrection had been allowed to take breaks and naps in between long shifts on the floors of the building housing the US Congress.

But on Thursday afternoon, after the legislature resumed work a day after the Biden inauguration, someone decided instead to force them out to a nearby parking garage.

Photos that spread quickly over the internet showed troops stretched out under fluorescent lights in parking slots, with few toilets, outlets for charging phones or other facilities.

Some members of Congress, noting that many of the troops came from their home states, voiced outrage.

"This is an insult to allNationalGuardunits that followed orders and served in the cold and rain through the night without fail.They protected our Capitol when we needed them most," said Representative Brendan Boyle on Twitter.

Lawmakers visited the troops and apologized early Friday.

"What happened was an outrage and it will never happen again," said Chuck Schumer, the new Senate Majority leader, as he walked in a hall in the Capitol with dozens of soldiers sleeping on both sides.

Schumer said nobody knew exactly who ordered the part-time soldiers moved to the garage.

In the afternoon, first lady Jill Biden also paid a surprise visit to a group of military personnel on duty in Congress, offering them chocolate chip cookies and posing for photos.

"TheNationalGuardwill always hold a special place in the hearts of all the Bidens," she said. President Joe Biden's late son, Beau, was a member of the DelawareNationalGuard.