Boone County first responders preparing for potential spread of coronavirus

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County is taking steps to prepare for the possible spread of COVID-19 to the area.

Gale Blomenkamp, assistant fire chief for the Boone County Fire Protection District, said Columbia could be at higher risk for the virus because of its airport.

"Columbia flies into two major hubs, Dallas and Chicago," Blomenkamp said. "So really the people coming over here from across the country or overseas are one or two flights away from us."

He said coronavirus is transmitted through "droplets," which is why they have to be careful with how they respond to a possible case.

"The normal human cough or sneeze can send droplets up to 6 feet," Blomenkamp said. "A harder or more vigorous cough can send droplets up to 10 feet."

Blomenkamp said the district has been re-training all of its officials this month on how to respond and what to do in case they do come in contact with someone that may be infected with the novel coronavirus.

"We talk about it and we treat it like any other hazmat operation," Blomenkamp said.

The full hazmat operation includes a fully encapsulated body suit equipped with an air filter. Blomenkamp said the district also works with the Columbia Fire Department and other officials on these operations.

"Really they are set up to go into any type of hazardous environment which this really kind of is," Blomenkamp said.

The district also has kits in each truck and other vehicles to deal with infectious diseases. Blomenkamp said the district put those in place in 2014 when an Ebola outbreak caused concerns.

There are different strands of coronavirus, but the one causing deaths across the globe is causing officials to take precautions, including Blomenkamp.

"People need to be aware of that, our firefighters need to be aware of that," Blomenkamp said. "If people feel like they have those flu-like symptoms, we should be one high alert anyway, because we don't want to take that home, or back to the station or to our families."

Lucio Bitoy, a spokesman for the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services, told ABC 17 News that the department is already taking steps to prepare for an outbreak.

Bitoy said the role of the department is making sure health care providers have the information and tools they need to diagnose and treat patients with the virus. 

"Our Emergency Response Plan is considered an all-hazard plan which covers things such as surveillance, investigation and prevention of secondary transmission," Bitoy said.