By TRAVIS CRUM,The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Cabell County 911 Director Mike Davis urged people to be honest about any COVID-19 symptoms they might be experiencing if they are calling first responders to their location.
Emergency medical service personnel, firefighters and law enforcement officers are still responding to calls during the pandemic, which federal authorities have projected will ramp up in the next two weeks in terms of COVID-19 deaths. Because of this, Davis said people should be honest about potential COVID-19 exposure so first responders can take precautions to protect themselves.
“We don’t want the first responders exposed to someone who may have the coronavirus,” Davis said. “Obviously, that cuts our responding workforce down. So that’s a serious issue that they really need to let us know up front.”
When people in Cabell County call 911, dispatchers will now ask a series of screener questions. These questions include whether people traveled recently or came into contact with someone with the virus. They will also be asked about any COVID-19 related symptoms such as a high fever, cough and difficulty breathing. …
