[ April 19, 2024 ]
Stalinism, Communism, Nazism, Democrats, Californication. The left never changes.
Coronavirus in California: Yes, a few people are calling 911 to report coughing neighbors
By Colin Atagi, Christopher Damien and Marie McCain, Palm Springs Desert Sun, March 16, 2020:
Story continues below advertisementAs the number of those with the coronavirus grows locally some Coachella Valley police departments, such as the Cathedral City Police Department, say dispatchers have started fielding 911 reports from concerned callers convinced a neighbor’s overly loud sneeze or hacking cough is proof the person has the virus.
As the number of those with the coronavirus grows locally some Coachella Valley police departments, such as the Cathedral City Police Department, say dispatchers have started fielding 911 reports from concerned callers convinced a neighbor’s overly loud sneeze or hacking cough is proof the person has the virus. (Photo: Marilyn Chung / The Desert Sun)
Neighbors calling 911 to report hearing loud coughing next door? It’s happening.
As the number of those with the coronavirus grows locally — Riverside County announced its 15th case on Monday and San Bernardino County confirmed its first case on Sunday — some Coachella Valley police departments say they’ve started fielding 911 reports from concerned callers convinced a neighbor’s overly loud sneeze or hacking cough is proof the person has the virus.
Palm Springs police estimate dispatchers had about five of these calls last week, Sgt. Mike Casavan said.
Cathedral City police Cmdr. Paul Herrera said dispatchers with his department, who also handle 911 calls from the neighboring city of Desert Hot Springs, fielded similar calls.
In many cases, the calls are forwarded to the fire department where paramedics are also dispatched to directly provide any needed medical attention before transporting the person to an area hospital.
That it takes a lab test to determine whether a person is actually positive for the virus doesn’t matter. The concern is real and each call, no matter how infrequent, is a request for help that law enforcement personnel must take seriously and handle professionally.
Authorities say they can’t ignore such calls or discount them as paranoia, hypochondria or fakery. They must respond even when every other public entity adopts “social distancing” in order to reduce possible coronavirus transmission.
Taking precautions and controlling transmissionCalifornia Peace Officers Association President Neil Gallucci, who is also chief of the Carlsbad (Calif.) Police Department, said he hopes to head off worst-case scenarios, such as a first-responder becoming infected by a patient and then spreading the coronavirus to other first-responders..
“If that happens enough, we worry about calls for service,” Gallucci said. ”We’re prepared to deal with issues that come up, but it’s a concern chiefs worry about.”
He said it is an unlikely occurrence, though, as police officers have historically been trained to maintain sanitary conditions. The outbreak has simply made them more vigilant, he said.
Locally, even before the first Coachella Valley coronavirus case was diagnosed, emergency personnel say they anticipated there would be some level of fear and heightened concern among the general public.
Cathedral City dispatchers were instructed to ask callers if they or the person they were calling about had recently returned from a trip abroad, where coronavirus outbreaks were first reported.
Three-packs of N95 respiratory masks are set out on a display near disinfectant, sanitizer, toilet paper and other cleaning products Friday, March 13, 2020.Three-packs of N95 respiratory masks are set out on a display near disinfectant, sanitizer, toilet paper and other cleaning products Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)
But, as the pandemic’s spread continued the questions were changed, Herrera said. They now ask if the person has had any contact with someone who has tested positive.
Police must protect themselves, tooUltimately, valley police say each call is treated like any other medical emergency, although, officers are now following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to protect not only the public, but themselves from any possible transmission of the illness.
And they’re having to figure out how to continue to serve and protect when it’s becoming increasingly clear that in order to protect others and themselves they have to reduce actual face-to-face interactions.
“It’s necessary,” Casavan said. “It’s not overwhelming, but we’re taking precautions.”
Palm Springs police officers have added hand sanitizer, gloves and medical face masks to the regular complement of equipment they carry every day. They also carry extra masks and gloves for anyone they might encounter who is exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
Casavan said the Palm Springs police station is cleaned daily and sanitizing wipes are now available throughout the building.
“Safety of officers is priority, they’ve been given a number of updates, we’re following CDC guidelines,” Herrera said, adding that Cathedral City police officers now carry infection control kits.
N95 face masks meant to keep out small particles that can cause lung irritation. Experts recommend that those who need to be outside during the smoke and haze of the wildfires in northern California wear them to protect their breathing.N95 face masks meant to keep out small particles that can cause lung irritation. Experts recommend that those who need to be outside during the smoke and haze of the wildfires in northern California wear them to protect their breathing. (Photo: Elizabeth Weise)
“These kits contain sanitary towels, N95 flat-fold masks, latex gloves, safety glasses, biohazard bags — basic infectious control items,” he said. “We use the bags to pick up everything from an incident site, everything that comes after contact. We’re not leaving it.
Carol Leveroni, CPOA executive director, said law enforcement personnel across the state are so concerned about controlling the spread of the virus that some agencies have gone as far as issuing travel bans to staff.
In the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department where at least one employee has been under self-quarantine since March 6, sheriff’s deputies have been advised to take precautions at their own discretion, which include carrying hand sanitizer and wearing gloves during arrests, Deputy Robyn Flores, a department spokeswoman, said.
Sheriff Chad Bianco has declined to say what the self-quarantined employee does within the department or where she is stationed, but he did say.the woman is doing well.
“I wouldn’t say (the department is) panicking, but we are preparing (for coronavirus),” he told local leaders during a Coachella Valley Association of Governments meeting on March 9. He added the employee opted to isolate herself after returning from a week’s vacation in Italy, where — as of Monday — more than 1,440 people have been tested positive for the coronavirus.
“If we’re getting calls form people who report they have symptoms, we’ll automatically forward them to the fire department for medical aid,” Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Albert Martinez said, adding that deputy safety is a concern.
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33 Comments
4 years ago
That’s ridiculous!
We have to STOP THIS too –
Refugee Resettlement to U.S. from 23 Coronavirus Countries Continues
JOHN BINDER 16 Mar 2020
Refugee resettlement to the United States from 23 countries with confirmed coronavirus infections is continuing with little-to-no changes by the State Department.
While President Trump has implemented travel bans on China, Iran, and Europe which have already stopped the flow of hundreds at land ports of entry, refugee resettlement to the U.S. from coronavirus-affected countries is continuing.
Between February 1 and March 15, the U.S. admitted 2,473 refugees — the overwhelming majority of which arrived from countries with at least one confirmed case of the coronavirus.
…
The 23 coronavirus countries from which refugees are still being resettled in the U.S. include:
Afghanistan
Armenia
Central African Republic
Colombia
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Egypt
Ethiopia
Guatemala
Guinea
Honduras
Iran
Iraq
Ivory Coast
Kazakhstan
Moldova
Pakistan
Russia
Rwanda
Senegal
Somalia
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Ukraine
…
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/03/16/refugee-resettlement-to-u-s-from-23-coronavirus-countries-continues/
4 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
i see about 3 white people in that motley crew. is the muslim president still running state?
4 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
U.N. halts refugee flights amid coronavirus panic
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/17/un-halts-refugee-flights-amid-coronavirus-panic/
4 years ago
whatever happened to culture of the beach boys and relaxing late night shows with johnny carson? people in this new CA behave like they are in east germany, and are as gullible as sheep
4 years ago
Reply to
tituspullo
Don’t lump us all into that – yes – i grew up in SoCal and yes it USED to be a great place – Thank Governor ‘ moonbeam ‘ for the start of the long downhill spiral to funklestien, pukosi and newscum
4 years ago
Reply to
volksnut
I was born there, I grew up there, I left in 1971 because I saw the direction it was going – all my family is still there – if they want to see me, they have to leave there because I won’t cross the border of that SH*TH*LE.
4 years ago
Reply to
tituspullo
I remember the days old with beautiful music the sun gold blond tanned gals and boys the 80s music before the world turned from beautiful to black muslimized and too much p.c. and broken bad english speaking everywhere. and too many Asians and indians everywhere even in Congress. NOT COOL :(((
4 years ago
CRAZY PEOPLE
They are calling 911 because they are running low on toilet paper.13% of the population think Elvis is still alive, and 15% are outright socialists. And it’s tempting to think those are the same people.
4 years ago
Oy.
4 years ago
What a bunch of moronic idiot oxygen thieving parasites!!!!!
4 years ago
Reply to
patd
usa peoples should complain about hoarding and shoppers overpiling their trollies & buying everything in st0ck like here in Australia. it’s so bizzare. what the hell is happening why is everyone in a frenzy???
by 10am shopping shelves are EMPTY!!!!!!!
media is not helping = please media back off. I wish everything back to normal before COVID-19 and the wuhan animal eaters!!!!!
4 years ago
“If you see something… say something”…
Isn’t that the mantra of America nowadays… <<< Of course it is...
4 years ago
Now do you understand why they keep voting democrats into office in California? You can’t fix stupid.
4 years ago
California is starting to sound like East Germany back in its “heyday”.
4 years ago
Reply to
volksnut
Well the article was about California but all states run by Demonrats are well on their way to Commie status.
4 years ago
You know what Edward Abby said, “If a man can’t piss in his own front yard, he’s living to close to town…”
4 years ago
Reply to
flyingsword
In CA they do whatever they want whenever they want! Civility and knowledge DO NOT EXIST!
4 years ago
Californication = Sanctuary cities – Sanctuary state – Sanctuary fools.
4 years ago
Reply to
Choice America
and its the only one? you guys need to stop with the generalizations – i have lots of CONSERVATIVE friends here – and none of us support what is it 11 states that openly declare themselves as sanctuaries now?
4 years ago
I’m no demorat –
4 years ago
So, let me get this straight ……
your neighbor calls the police because they “heard you coughing ……
the cops show up, but, they can’t “test” you ……..
so, they load you up and take you to the hospital for testing & confinement until the “test” is confirmed …..
….. all of this without a WARRANT.
Someone (maybe lots of someones) is going to get killed!
4 years ago
California, the third world nation within our nation, is the perfect place for this virus to thrive! Maybe FIGURATIVELY if not physically it will clean out this leftist sewer.
4 years ago
IF THEY DO NOT ABORT THEM FIRST!!!
