State To Share Coronavirus Patient Addresses With First Responders For Preparation Purposes

Friday, April 3rd 2020, 5:49 pm

By: Clayton Cummins

During a Thursday afternoon press conference, Governor Kevin Stitt announced he signed a new executive order created to “unify the statewide health response.”

The executive order, signed that morning, allows the state to share with first responders the addresses only of patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The idea behind the effort is to help better prepare first responders for what they’re about to deal with.

El Reno mayor, Matt White, is a fan of the idea.

This week four police officers and one firefighter were quarantined after responding to a medical call of a heart attack. After later observing the patient’s symptoms, it was thought they'd possibly been exposed to COVID-19.

“We were using rubber gloves, we were doing everything else,” said White. “You just have to take precautions at that point in time. It is a serious situation.”

The patient later tested negative for COVID-19 and all five first responders were allowed out of quarantine Friday morning.

Knowing ahead of time exactly what they'd be getting into, White said, helps.

“You have to know what kind of situation you are getting into to help better prepare for what situation is going to happen,” said White. “Any information on a situation, the more information you can have or receive it better prepares you for the situation at hand.”

El Reno has a population of about 20,000 people. A similar incident elsewhere could spell big trouble.

“I can't imagine a small town, a lot of the small towns in Oklahoma, that would’ve wiped their whole force out,” said White.

Like many of us, city leaders are taking the COVID-19 pandemic day by day. Commending those working on the front line.

“We need to pray for these people, we need to support them, and we need to respect them,” said White. “That is the thing is, we have to try to stay inside and curve this thing because these people are absolutely sacrificing their lives.”