Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
September 18, 2020 - 4:19 p.m.

 

Situation in CCEMSA Counties

Currently there are 54,557 positive cases of COVID-19 in CCEMSA Counties (Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare Counties in Total).

  • 40,587 of these cases are now considered recovered from COVID-19 (4,270 in Madera County, 17,296 in Fresno County, 4,741 in Kings County, 15,599 in Tulare County)
  • 746 COVID-19 cases have resulted in death in CCEMSA Counties (58 in Madera County, 355 in Fresno County, 77 in Kings County, 256 in Tulare County)

What to Expect

More cases are likely to be identified in the coming days, person-to-person and community spread continue to occur, including in the United States, California and CCEMSA Counties.

Mitigation Strategies for everyone to limit the spread of COVID-19

  • Washing hands with soap and water.
  • Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. 
  • Masking, which covers the mouth and nose, when close contact is unavoidable.
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick are all ways to reduce the risk of infection with a number of different viruses. 
  • Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough. 

The information below was developed utilizing current CDC guidelines and recommendations.

 

Background 

Emergency medical services (EMS) play a vital role in responding to requests for assistance, triaging patients, and providing emergency medical treatment and transport for ill persons. However, unlike patient care in the controlled environment of a healthcare facility, care and transports by EMS present unique challenges because of the nature of the setting, enclosed space during transport, frequent need for rapid medical decision-making, interventions with limited information, and a varying range of patient acuity and jurisdictional healthcare resources.

When preparing for and responding to patients with confirmed or possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), close coordination and effective communications are important among Dispatch Centers, the EMS system (EMS Agency, Providers and First Responders), healthcare facilities, and the public health system. When COVID-19 is suspected in a patient needing emergency transport, prehospital care providers and healthcare facilities should be notified in advance that they may be caring for, transporting, or receiving a patient who may have COVID-19 infection.

Updated information about COVID-19, Infection prevention and control recommendations and additional information for healthcare personnel may be accessed at the links below.

Case Definition for COVID-19

CDC’s most current case definition for a person under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19:

Fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing).

AND

Any persons, including healthcare workers, who have had close contact** with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient within 14 days of symptom onset, or a history of travel from affected geographic areas (China, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea) within 14 days of symptom onset.

Recommendations for 911 DISPATCH CENTERs

The Central California EMS Agency has implemented modified caller queries for Sick Person and Difficulty Breathing calls types. Information gathered during the call taking process is placed in the CAD comments and is available for viewing by EMS and first responder personnel.  

Information on a possible COVID-19 Persons Under Investigation and or suspect cases is rapidly and continually changing. The Central California EMS Agency is working closely with our Public Health Departments to be informed of these cases and to the extent possible providing addresses to our Dispatch Centers.

 

     

    Further Information

    Fresno County Department of Public Health - COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Information

    Kings County Department of Public Health

    Madera County Department of Public Health

    Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency

    California Department of Public Health

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    World Health Organization (WHO)

     

    If you have any questions, please contact:  Curtis C. Jack, EMT-P, EMS Coordinator- Disaster Services