Coronavirus In Allegheny County: First Responders Will Be Informed When They Treat Or Transport Patient With COVID-19
ALLEGHENY COUNTY (KDKA) -- Local emergency responders say they will now get the information they need during the coronavirus outbreak.
Amid concerns from emergency responders, the Allegheny County Health Department says it will inform emergency personnel when they have treated or transported a patient with coronavirus.
Citing privacy laws, the health department had been withholding information on whether patients have or later tested positive for the virus.
KDKA investigator Andy Sheehan reports the department is now divulging that information, just not revealing the patient's name.
"This will be a relief to them. Again another layer of protection for our men and women who are out there on the front lines to know that we are going to be informed of this," said President of the Pittsburgh Firefighters Union Ralph Sicuro said.
"That the information will be passed along to the emergency services for them to identify the locations of those who have tested positive with the coronavirus," Sicuro added.
A first responder told KDKA that 911 dispatchers are trying to get as much information as they can to alert first responders about possible coronavirus cases.
If you have any flu-like symptoms and call 911, tell the dispatcher.
