Sheriff Skips County Coronavirus Emergency Response Meeting
County officials met to make plans in case any cases of Novel Coronavirus 2019 hit our area. Commissioner says that while the flu has killed a lot more people, COVID-19 is highly contagious and can be a strain on hospitals because many patients end up requiring a ventilator.
County Commissioners met Monday with Scioto County Emergency Management Agency head Kim Carver at the emergency operations center. Also in attendance were a number of personnel from SOMC and KMDC hospitals which are coordinating their response efforts to a potential Coronavirus Emergency. Davis said there were reps from the Ohio Department of Health, Scioto County Department of Health, and Portsmouth City Health Department as well as representatives from area fire, EMS, and local law enforcement agencies. Commissioner Cathy Coleman said there was one notable absence that no one from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office came to the meeting.
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Davis also pointed out that judges, a representative from the prosecutor’s office, and personnel from Shawnee State University were on hand. He said SSU has been on spring break but will keep a special eye on students who traveled overseas or visited the West Coast during the break. All six US deaths from the virus have been in Washington State.
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This type of meeting is nothing new for the county. Deputy EMA Director Larry Mullins told me last week that EMA regularly meets with officials to go over their plans to every type of emergency and to conduct drills on how to respond.
Davis says that preparedness has paid off over the years. “We’re ready to go before the river rises.” He cited the response to the crippling ice storm and says Scioto County is even better prepared to respond to any emergency thanks to improved communications systems.
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Davis said it appears the COVID19 epidemic may be winding down in China and offered the same advice that medical professionals have given again and again. “WASH YOUR HANDS! If your sick, don’t go out in public. I know it’s hard sometimes. I gotta make money. I understand. We have a lot of walking sick during the flu season. They’re gonna tough it out and go to work and try to be that warrior. Stay home.”
The full meeting has been shared on our Facebook Group. You can also view it on the Scioto County Commissioners page HERE