New York has extended the deployment of the National Guard in nursing homes across the state until the end of May.

The state originally deployed soldiers to the care facilities during the omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A National Guard spokesperson confirms their mission, and the federal funds to pay them, have been extended through May 31. 

The soldiers were deployed to help with staffing shortages as patients who were well enough were transferred to nursing homes to help free up beds in hospitals.

The National Guard says troops were originally deployed to sites in Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, Buffalo, Utica, Plattsburgh, Uniondale, Liberty, Vestal, Olean, Lyons and Goshen.