The head of the Infectious Disease Division at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield says people should “prepare, not panic” as the world’s medical community, including local doctors and health professionals, explores what can be done about COVID-19, the novel coronavirus.
Dr. Armando Paez said the reason it seems there are no firm plans at this time is because doctors and health leaders are learning more about the virus on a daily basis and there isn’t much they can do at this time, except try to prevent it from spreading. He said information about COVID-19 continues to evolve, especially when it comes to community transmission and, so guidelines that need to be followed to prevent an pandemic are changing almost daily.
“If a person presents in our facility or is admitted to the hospital, we will follow a protocol for determining whether they have COVID-19, testing for it and providing the necessary care,” he said. “When people seek medical care, they need to be screened.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that anyone can be tested for COVID-19 without restrictions but subject to a doctor’s orders. The CDC’s previous guidance was limited to people who had traveled to countries affected by novel coronavirus, which is what is was first called, outbreaks and came in contact with a diagnosed patient or showed severe symptoms.
Vice President Mike Pence, who is in charge of coronavirus response for the country, said Tuesday several governors had raised concerns that people with only mild symptoms wouldn’t be tested and, therefore, it could spread.
The CDC has said COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation, so the agency will provide updated information as it becomes available. While thousands of people have died so far – a 12th person has died in the United States – the World Health Organization is not calling it a pandemic.
As of Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University, more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease globally, with at least 3,015 deaths in China and 267 in other parts of the globe, most of them in Italy and Iran.
Paez said if a person arriving at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, as well as any of its other hospitals, including Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, meets the criteria for having COVID-19 – fever, cough, shortness of breath – they will be asked if they have traveled and where or if they’ve been in contact with someone who is sick. He said if someone goes to the emergency room at Baystate Medical Center or one of its hospitals and presents with suspicious symptoms, they will be tested and the test will go to the state.
“If someone has symptoms, they need to contact their doctor,” he said. “The problem is, someone who has a mild case may not seek medical care.
“Massachusetts is still low-risk, so there’s no need to panic, but people need to be diligent,” Paez said. “People should stock up on some groceries and medications, but they should also do that for the flu, as well. People should use common sense: don’t expose themselves, wash their hands frequently, use disinfectants to clean frequently used surfaces.”
While experts are still saying COVID-19 has not reached the level of a pandemic, the number of cases has doubled in a week, the number of dead has done about the same and the number of states reporting cases has gone from under a dozen to 19.
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner said she will be meeting with her team to discuss what the city needs to do to prepare. She said the city will be coming up with a plan and a timeline.
“We are definitely not ignoring this,” the major said. “We’ve got information and links on the city’s website, but we, everyone, needs more information. I think everyone is doing what they can with what they have right now.”
Wedegartner said she expects the city will have more information and, at the very least, the beginnings of a solid plan next week.
Turners Falls Fire Chief John Zellmann said his department has prepared by stocking up on protective equipment, masks and gowns, but that’s about all they’ve been able to do with limited information.
He said when the ambulance responds, for instance, to someone who is presenting with flu-like symptoms, the crew will have to determine whether to respond in protective gear.
“It’s evolving,” he said. “We’re all trying to figure this out.”
Zellmann said he and other town leaders are having frequent conversations about what to do if Montague or other Franklin County towns start seeing cases.
“We’re low-risk right now, so we feel like we’re doing what we can at this point,” he said. “I think people should take a few more precautions, but that’s about all we can do. I think that’s what everyone is doing.”
Zellmann, who is also the town’s emergency management director, said the town is receiving constant updates from the CDC and the state Department of Public Health. He said as the two organizations send advisories that he and other town leaders are turning into policies.
“I know this is scary, but we’re working on it, planning, preparing,” he said. “We’re looking for signs and symptoms. It’s what we do. I just hope it doesn’t make its way here.”
Tracy Rogers, Emergency Preparedness Program manager at Franklin Regional Council of Governments, said there will likely not be a vaccine for COVID-19 for at least a year, so there’s not a lot health professionals can do, except to help people prevent contracting it or care for them if they do.
“Hospitals, cities and towns and others are all doing what they can to prepare, while at the same time trying not to create panic and chaos,” Rogers said. “We are meeting on a weekly basis to discuss any updates.”
She said the program is crafting messages to all 26 communities in Franklin County to make sure they all have the same information and updates.
Rogers suggests that people make sure they have enough of their medications, food and water so that if someone in the household does contract the coronavirus, they have enough to get them through.
“Everyone just needs to be aware at this point,” she said.
Most importantly, she said, people in Franklin County need to understand that their local boards of health are the end of a chain that starts with the CDC, DPH and the Mohawk Area Public Health Coalition, and that at every link in the chain, emergency response plans are being reviewed and supplies and equipment are being marshaled.
On Wednesday, the Gov. Charlie Baker Administration met with front-line leaders representing hospitals, local public health boards, emergency response, long-term care and higher education to discuss ongoing preparations for COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Baker was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, DPH Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel, MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak and Massport CEO Lisa Wieland.
“Our administration’s top priority continues to be the health and safety of Massachusetts residents, and our ongoing collaboration with medical experts, first responders, school officials, local public health leaders and other stakeholders is a crucial part of our ongoing preparedness efforts,” Baker said. “While the risk for COVID-19 in Massachusetts remains low, our partnership with these organizations and leaders is crucial to ensuring that the Commonwealth remains safe and prepared.”
Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, the Senate chair for the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health, said the committee was holding an oversight hearing this year to discuss with state and local officials what is needed from its members.
“I wanted the rural perspective, of course,” she said. “We’re doing planning and preparedness. We need to know what needs to be done so we can provide help, including financial.”
Comerford said she and her colleagues want to know how they can best support towns and cities across the state. She said communities are so diverse, so they might need different things.
“We’re going to look at the gaps and what we can do to fill them in,” Comerford said. “We’re looking at this deeply and thoroughly. We need to be responsible to health officials, municipalities and constituents.”
Comerford said it isn’t easy, because it is such a fluid situation.
“There are so many forces at play,” she said. “We need to stay informed every day. There are so many people working on this and we are going to continue to be tenacious.”
Comerford said there is a reason to be concerned, but not panic. She said officials are working around the clock to keep everyone safe.
“We just want to know how we can be the best allies,” she said.
For more information, visit your town’s or city’s website – most have information – or visit the CDC at: www.cdc.gov. You can also visit the DPH at: bit.ly/2Tko1ol or www.ready.gov.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 5269, or afritz@recorder.com.