McCoy has coronavirus preparedness info

VW independent/submitted information

The global buzz word today is coronavirus (COVID-19, the “superflu” virus that has affected travel and the stock markets, has closed down many businesses and scheduled events, and is responsible for more than 100,000 people infected worldwide, as well as a number of deaths.

According to Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy, preparation for such an outbreak have been taking place for many years and are nothing new for the EMA. Disaster groups have planned for H1N1, the bird flu, Ebola, and other outbreaks knowing that there is always the potential that a pandemic could occur. 

McCoy noted that coronavirus is, of course, a dangerous virus, especially since it is new and medical professionals are still learning much about it, but the situation is certainly nothing to panic over. Panic is one of the biggest problems affecting people right now, mainly because national and worldwide media have covered this situation as if it were a doomsday plague.

“I can assure the public that we can handle this and we are prepared,” he said.

When the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, this new strain of coronavirus was transmitted from an animal to a human. It was originally covered up by the Chinese government, but, once information was obtained in the United States about the virus, national, state, and local governments immediately began sharing information on what was taking place and what to expect, said McCoy. 

“I have seen complete cooperation from all levels of government to combat this new illness and can guarantee the public that we will share any information the public needs to know and will take appropriate actions in the event we would begin seeing cases in Van Wert County,” McCoy said. “I want everyone to understand that this is similar to any cold or flu, meaning we won’t stop it, and it will gradually sweep across the United States to many communities, just as any virus does. 

“Our goal right now is to be very proactive across the country in trying to isolate it in areas when it shows itself to slow down the spread, and this gives us more time to create a vaccine, hopefully, before many communities are affected,” McCoy explained. “The hope is the virus will decline as warmer weather moves in, as is the case with other viruses, but that is uncertain at this point. 

McCoy noted, though, that it will likely be 12 to 18 months before a vaccine is developed and available to the public.

The EMA director advised that he has been in contact with the local health department since the virus was announced, and plans are in place should cases be discovered here. 

“Fortunately, what we know is that most people that get the virus have minor cold symptoms and won’t even realize they actually have this virus,” McCoy said, “but mild symptoms means staying home and away from other people so that you don’t transmit it to others — particularly the very elderly and high risk individuals who have a higher chance of getting severe respiratory illness.”

One of the positive aspects of this virus is there has not been a single death of a small child, which differs from what is seen with typical influenza outbreaks each year.

What do we do next? is a question on many minds, McCoy noted. 

“First, don’t allow the national media to overwhelm you with information and cause you to panic,” he said. “We have a new virus and it’s serious, but so is the flu and other viruses that have affected us. 

“We can handle this as a nation and we will again when the next new virus pops up unexpectedly sometime in the future,” McCoy added. 

Second, the EMA director noted that area residents need to follow guidelines provided by the Van Wert County Health Department and refer to the Ohio Department of Health and CDC for factual information and not national media. 

Third, McCoy said area residents should be aware of the possibility that cases could occur in the area, so it is important to have extra items on hand in the event that the flow of medical supplies, baby supplies, or food supplies are interrupted for a period of time. This type of preparedness is important for any type of disaster, such as tornadoes and flooding events that occur regularly here in Van Wert County.  

And, finally, area residents should remember that they will prevail in the end. 

“If cases occur here, I will immediately activate the Emergency Operations Center and bring together key officials in our communities to implement a plan to inform and assist the residents of Van Wert County,” McCoy said.