‘Going in blind’: Chester County joins call for more 911 coronavirus details.
Eddie Murphy needs help from legislators and parents. Both are key, he said, in effort to keep coronavirus from spreading further in Chester County.
Murphy, emergency management director for the county, addressed Chester County Council at its special called meeting Monday afternoon ahead of a vote on a state of emergency declaration. He echoed comments from Lancaster County counterpart Darren Player a week prior that emergency responders need to know addresses of confirmed coronavirus cases.
“We’re going in blind,” Murphy said.
Murphy asked council to back a resolution to ask state legislators for changes. The state recently began posting confirmed cases by zip code. Anyone quarantined at home with coronavirus should, per state rules, notify 911 dispatch if a call is made. Emergency responders say that system alone may not work.
“Yesterday came in as troubled breathing,” Murphy told council, of a call Sunday likely to involve coronavirus. “Troubled breathing can mean a lot.”
Murphy said a state regulation and not a federal one is the issue. Emergency responders want addresses in the 911 system, which wouldn’t mean they were open to general public knowledge. Murphy said it isn’t a name he’s after in patient identification, but an address so medical or firefighting staff understands the threat level.
“The information coming in is not enough to go by,” Murphy said.
As of mid-day Monday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control listed Chester County with two of the 774 confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Carolina. Chester County had none of the 16 deaths.
Murphy sits on multiple conference calls with daily updates. He told council Monday afternoon to expect 151 new confirmed cases overnight with 16 deaths, statewide.
Murphy said the threat to first responders isn’t the only one in Chester County.
“Parents are not controlling their teenagers,” he said. “They do not understand it. They’re bullet proof people out here.”
He asked council to do whatever that group can to educate parents and young people on the threat coronavirus presents.
“We have to limit getting together, or grandma and grandpa are going to die,” Murphy said.
Murphy said the common recommendations are the ones to follow — six feet of separation, staying home when able. Avoiding grocery trips more than once a week is a good idea, he said.
“Every little thing makes a difference,” Murphy said.
More medical supplies should arrive in Chester County later this week. There was discussion at the meeting Monday afternoon from ventilator supply to the impact on tax collection.
“It’s a challenge,” said county supervisor Shane Stuart, “and it keeps changing every day.”
