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Cabell County EMS reports operational changes and announces free drive-thru COVID-19 testing
Summary
CCEMS director reported operational changes including a task force, added PPE and office closures; the county announced free drive-thru COVID-19 testing on Sept. 25, 2020, open to all Cabell County residents without proof of insurance.
Cabell County EMS provided operational updates at the Sept. 24 commission meeting and announced a free drive-thru COVID-19 testing event.
Gordon Merry, director of Cabell County EMS, said the agency established a weekly task force, upgraded personal protective equipment to include P100 1/2 masks, and closed offices to outside traffic and closed field offices to excess traffic to reduce transmission risk. "There has been a task force created and maintained weekly, added PPE P100 1/2 Mask, Closed office to outside traffic," Merry told commissioners.
The commission also recorded a notice that Cabell County EMS would operate a free drive-thru COVID-19 testing event on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, from noon to 6 p.m., available to all Cabell County residents; proof of insurance is not required but attendees should bring identification or proof of address and minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Mike Davis, director of CCERC-911, reported nine staff had been tested for COVID-19 and 19 were quarantined but said no cases were traced to in-house transmission. The commission approved routine EMS personnel actions including employment and reclassification of paramedics and EMTs during the meeting.
Why it matters: EMS operational changes and widespread testing availability affect public health readiness and access to COVID-19 testing for residents.
Next steps: testing was scheduled for Sept. 25; EMS and 911 operations stated continued mitigation measures and monitoring of staff cases.
