How Centre County emergency personnel are trying to keep safe amid the coronavirus pandemic
Several police departments and emergency medical services in Centre County implemented procedures to mitigate the continuing spread of the new coronavirus.
Paramedics, police officers and firefighters are among those who face the greatest COVID-19 risk as they are often exposed to disease and infection and work in close physical proximity to others, a New York Times study found.
“The use of the EMS service(s) (is) only for dire emergencies,” Gregg Township Fire Company wrote in a Facebook post. “... Our neighbors, EMTs, should not have to be in a box with you riding down the road at this point for non-life-threatening events.”
State College and Ferguson Township police, which closed its lobby Monday and reduced internal training class sizes, encouraged residents to report minor incidents via phone.
For calls that require an in-person response, officers are attempting to maintain an appropriate distance, State College police Lt. Greg Brauser said.
Municipal police are still responding to medical calls, but Ferguson Township police Chief Chris Albright and Patton Township police Chief Tyler Jolley said officers are encouraged to wear personal protective equipment if possible.
Penn State police will not respond to medical calls unless the situation is potentially life-threatening or EMS personnel request assistance, university police public information director Jenn Cruden wrote in an email.
University police officers will not travel in an ambulance during medical transport either, she said.
Centre LifeLink EMS is allowing only one legal guardian of a child to be in an ambulance during medical transport.
“We are fully committed to protecting and serving the Penn State community during this unique time, and our department has implemented measures to help keep our police officers healthy as they serve the community,” university police Chief Joseph Milek said in a statement. “We hope those we serve understand these measures are in place to allow our officers to continue to serve the Penn State community for the duration of this situation.”
State police have not changed their field operations, though plans are in place to shift resources as necessary to meet operational needs, Communications Director Ryan Tarkowski wrote in an email Thursday.
“This may involve shifting manpower from other stations and/or troops to support a station experiencing a staffing shortage due to illness, temporarily re-assigning members in specialty positions to meet staffing needs and/or changing the way we respond to certain non-emergency calls,” Tarkowski wrote. “The public can be confident that the PSP has the plans and resources in place to respond to emergencies and support our law enforcement partners.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 371 cases statewide as of noon Friday, and two deaths. One case has been confirmed in Centre County.
For most people, COVID-19 causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. Older adults and those with existing health problems are at a heightened risk for more severe illness.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 8:19 AM.