ROCKLAND — The City of Rockland and its Fire and EMS department have enacted additional measures to safeguard employees and residents against possible local outbreaks of coronavirus COVID-19.

Although local officials are trying to avoid intensifying fears that have already spread throughout the nation and the world, the city also wants to keep residents and employees healthy, according to Fire/EMS Chief Chris Whytock.

Whytock is acting as a consultant for city officials and has been following the updates by the hospitals, the Emergency Management Agency, Maine CDC and the national CDC. 

As a result of local conversations, the City has dusted off the policy it used during the H1N1 scare, and tweaked it as needed for the current situation.

“As this thing just kind of comes at us in a wave, we have to remember, on the other side of the wave is – hopefully – some sort of calm waters that will then settle us in and allow things to happen in a more calm and fashionable manner,” said Whytock.

The State of Maine announced Tuesday, March 10, that COVID-19 testing is now an option at the Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL), in Augusta.

If a person wakes up with a cough or fever that wasn’t there the day before, Whytock suggests the initial step us to call the doctor via phone, or the hospital Emergency Department to ask questions. Then, if necessary, go to those facilities. 

“We’re trying to keep the sick away from the vulnerable,” he said.

Fire and EMS

When a medical patient calls 911, dispatchers have traditionally asked a number of questions related to the reason for the call. Cardiac complaints will lead to a series of questions in line with the patient’s heart-related symptoms so that EMS personnel know what to expect when they arrive on scene. Suspected strokes will lead to a different series of questions. Now, another series of questions has been initiated that ask about fever, cough, respiratory symptoms, and recent travel. 

If a virus is considered, Rockland’s EMS personnel will take extra precautions to keep themselves safe, as well as to stop any spread.

Precautions:

– EMS usually work in teams of two. If flu or virus is suspected, only one crew member will approach the patient to gather a primary assessment, take vital signs, document relevant medical history, etc.

– All personnel who approach the patient will first remain in the driveway long enough to put on a mask, gown, and splash guard. 

– Depending on the patient’s symptoms when EMS arrives, that patient may be given a thin face mask to wear. 

– Patient care still comes first, according to Whytock. If a patient needs a different mask or equipment, the necessary equipment will prevail.

– Following transport of suspected flu patients, every surface within the ambulance must be disinfected, and the doors must remain open for 30 minutes after cleaning. 

Rockland outlines staff policy with COVID-19

During the Monday, March 9 City Council meeting, City Manager Tom Luttrell announced precautions for employees and visitors at City Hall:

If you are feeling ill here in the City, stay home. We won’t charge you vacation or sick time – whatever you have on the books. Especially if you have been travelling, we’re encouraging you to stay home, quarantine yourself, and make sure everybody is safe. 

We’ve also cancelled all travel outside of the state of Maine. Anybody who was doing a training seminar, we’ve asked them to reconsider, or rebook for a later time. This will affect a few people that I know .....Even though the conference isn’t cancelling, to keep our employees here instead of being exposed to people from the entire United States.  

We are also setting up measures to allow key personnel to work and keep the City running from home with remote access. 

People will still get paid if they are staying home. 

We are going to be putting hygiene stations with masks, tissues, and sanitizer at every entrance of City Hall.

Sneeze guards are being installed temporarily at the windows of the clerks office and the code office. That’s something we will keep up with going forward through flu season every year. If it calms down for the summer, we will probably take them down. 

COVID-19 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html March 7.

The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern. (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.  All three of these viruses have their origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.

Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.

COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States.

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Can someone spread the virus without being sick?
People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully known. Reported illnesses have ranged from very mild (including some with no reported symptoms) to severe, including illness resulting in death. While information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild, a reportexternal icon out of China suggests serious illness occurs in 16% of cases. Older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions — like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example — seem to be at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.

The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.*

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to  others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
For information about handwashing, see CDC’s Handwashing website

For information specific to healthcare, see CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses. CDC does have specific guidance for travelers.Current evidence suggests that novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in community settings.

Disinfecting: what to use, how to clean https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html

Follow normal preventive actions while at work and home, including cleaning hands and avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Additional key times to clean hands include:
  • After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After using the restroom
  • Before eating or preparing food
  • After contact with animals or pets
  • Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g., a child)