First Responders To Get Coronavirus Alerts When Dispatched

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA - First responders will now be alerted if they are answering a call where there is a confirmed coronavirus case, county officials announced Tuesday.

The county health and emergency services departments have established a process they believe will provide some protection for first responders while still protecting the privacy of residents. The health department will begin providing the addresses of confirmed COVID-19 cases to emergency services on a daily basis, but no names will be given.

A flag will be entered into the county 911 system, and if 911 receives a call with a flagged address the dispatcher will notify responders of a coronavirus case at the location. The flag will be removed from the system after 30 days.

County health director Dr. Debra Bogen and emergency services director Matt Brown cautioned, however, that first responders should assume that all homes have potential coronavirus and take all necessary precautions during the outbreak.

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