March 7, 2020 at 5:16 a.m.
Pandemic plans
County agencies have procedures in place to deal with coronavirus outbreak
Pandemic plans
Plans are in place.
While spread of the coronavirus has not yet reached pandemic proportions and the first confirmed case in Indiana was reported Friday, local agencies have well-developed plans for how to cope with such an emergency if it occurs.
In fact, plans have been in place for more than a decade and are updated on a regular basis.
“Ours is in the process of being updated,” Jay County Health Department environmentalist/administrator Heath Butz said this week. “We have a pandemic information plan.”
The issue is likely to come up Thursday when the Local Emergency Planning Committee holds its regularly scheduled meeting.
That meeting brings together not only the health department but the Jay County Emergency Management Agency, Jay Emergency Medical Service, IU Health Jay Hospital and local fire and police departments as well as local industries.
Butz routinely follows web updates from Indiana State Board of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including weekly state webinars.
“There’s a lot of new stuff coming out,” said Butz. “There’s going to be a lot of information going out.”
He’s in regular touch with Jay School Corporation to make sure personnel are up to speed.
Jay County Emergency Management director Jessica Ooten said that as information on COVID-19 comes in, her office makes sure it is distributed to 911 dispatchers, EMTs and fire departments.
First responders and health professionals are at particular risk of contagion and need to know “what’s going to work and what’s not going to work,” said Ooten.
“You’re going to think it’s something else,” she said of those encountering the virus for the first time.
In the meantime, said Butz, “Do the same stuff you should already be doing.”
That translates to washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, staying home if you yourself are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and keeping objects and surfaces clean and disinfected.
Plans already in place outline the decision-making structure and various roles and responsibilities, with the county health department as the lead agency. Public health coordinator Amy Blakesly is the designated preparedness person for the county health department.
Planning for the threat of a globally spread virus dates back to at least 2006, when the potential for avian flu surfaced.
“Pandemics occur globally but impact locally,” the 2006 plan document noted. “Response is a local responsibility.”
Even with plans in place, any pandemic is likely to be unpredictable.
“All I do is play the ‘what if’ game,” said Ooten. “That’s my job.”
“We just want to be ready,” said Butz.
More information can be found at:
•.in.gov/isdh/28470.htm
•cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
While spread of the coronavirus has not yet reached pandemic proportions and the first confirmed case in Indiana was reported Friday, local agencies have well-developed plans for how to cope with such an emergency if it occurs.
In fact, plans have been in place for more than a decade and are updated on a regular basis.
“Ours is in the process of being updated,” Jay County Health Department environmentalist/administrator Heath Butz said this week. “We have a pandemic information plan.”
The issue is likely to come up Thursday when the Local Emergency Planning Committee holds its regularly scheduled meeting.
That meeting brings together not only the health department but the Jay County Emergency Management Agency, Jay Emergency Medical Service, IU Health Jay Hospital and local fire and police departments as well as local industries.
Butz routinely follows web updates from Indiana State Board of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including weekly state webinars.
“There’s a lot of new stuff coming out,” said Butz. “There’s going to be a lot of information going out.”
He’s in regular touch with Jay School Corporation to make sure personnel are up to speed.
Jay County Emergency Management director Jessica Ooten said that as information on COVID-19 comes in, her office makes sure it is distributed to 911 dispatchers, EMTs and fire departments.
First responders and health professionals are at particular risk of contagion and need to know “what’s going to work and what’s not going to work,” said Ooten.
“You’re going to think it’s something else,” she said of those encountering the virus for the first time.
In the meantime, said Butz, “Do the same stuff you should already be doing.”
That translates to washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, staying home if you yourself are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and keeping objects and surfaces clean and disinfected.
Plans already in place outline the decision-making structure and various roles and responsibilities, with the county health department as the lead agency. Public health coordinator Amy Blakesly is the designated preparedness person for the county health department.
Planning for the threat of a globally spread virus dates back to at least 2006, when the potential for avian flu surfaced.
“Pandemics occur globally but impact locally,” the 2006 plan document noted. “Response is a local responsibility.”
Even with plans in place, any pandemic is likely to be unpredictable.
“All I do is play the ‘what if’ game,” said Ooten. “That’s my job.”
“We just want to be ready,” said Butz.
More information can be found at:
•.in.gov/isdh/28470.htm
•cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD