Officials: Montco preparing for outbreak
County issues guidelines for emergency medical workers
NORRISTOWN » While no cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Pennsylvania, Montgomery County officials are working to put necessary protocols in place, according to commissioners’ Chairwoman Val Arkoosh.
“We want to be ready for any changes that we might have to put into place should COVID-19 become widespread here in Montgomery County,” Arkoosh said in a phone interview Friday.
Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19, was first detected in Wuhan City, China. It has since spread with cases reported in more than 50 countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Several department heads from various agencies including the Montgomery County Office of Public Health and Department of Public Safety met Friday afternoon to discuss the matter, Arkoosh said. A representative from the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania was also welcomed to participate.
She added the county’s office of
public health has existing policies in place to monitor and deal with infectious disease outbreaks such as influenza and measles.
In the event someone falls ill, Arkoosh said the department can procure test samples, and based on the results, “make recommendations with the goal of reducing spread of that disease or containing that disease.”
The Montgomery County Department of Public Safety issued guidelines on Feb. 25 for its EMS personnel with regards to COVID-19.
“The situation is fluid and changing every minute,” county officials said in a statement.
The CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health are opening command centers, according to Arkoosh, and the state’s hospital association is working with local hospitals to keep communication consistent.
Arkoosh, who is also a physician, said there are
several procedures for hospital employees and emergency medical services providers to follow when dealing with infectious diseases including sterilizing their hands “before and after contact with every single patent.”
She added hospitals are equipped with “personal protective gear” for employees if they encounter a patient with an infectious disease.
In addition, medical facilities are taking inventory “to make sure that everyone has enough supplies” of items including masks and gloves, Arkoosh said.
“It’s really just making sure that everyone is prepared. Hopefully we won’t need this preparation, but I do believe that given how this has been spreading, we absolutely must be prepared,” she said.
People going to places where the disease is prevalent, or coming into contact with someone who’s traveled there could be susceptible to contracting the disease.
“If neither of those things are true, it’s extremely unlikely
that someone has COVID-19,” she said. “It’s much more likely that they just have the flu. Influenza is pretty active right now in Pennsylvania, so that is the most likely diagnosis.”
According to CDC, the symptoms for Coronavirus Disease 2019 include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Arkoosh encouraged anyone with those symptoms to call their doctor, who will prompt them to take the appropriate next steps of coming in for an evaluation or going to a medical facility.
In general, she emphasized the importance of residents practicing good health habits by washing their hands, coughing into their elbows and staying home if they’re sick.
Arkoosh stressed she doesn’t want the public to be alarmed.
“Right now the risk is very, very low,” Arkoosh said. “I think we are prepared, and if people just stay calm, and are careful in their personal habits, hopefully we won’t have a problem here.”