COVID-19: EMS monitoring of the coronavirus pandemic

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on Mar. 11, 2020.

The CDC began closely monitoring the outbreak caused by a new coronavirus strain first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019, which quickly spread to southeast Asia, Europe, Canada and the U.S. The first case in the United States was announced on Jan. 21, 2020, in the state of Washington, where the patient recently returned from Wuhan.

The World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency on Jan. 30, 2020. The announcement came shortly after the first human-to-human transmission of the virus in the U.S. was confirmed by the CDC.

EMS has taken the global stage with its frontline response to the pandemic. The EMS1 COVID-19 includes the latest news, videos, podcasts and analysis about EMS training, safety measures, assessment and treatment of patients with COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine development and supporting the mental health of providers through the pandemic.

(Photo/American Ambulance Association)

Infectious Diseases

Emerging pathogens, diseases, outbreaks and fevers

Disaster medicine expert Dr. Alex Isakov weighs in on infectious diseases on the horizon

April 11, 2023 09:29 AM

Rob Lawrence

Quality Improvement Program

NAEMSP 2023 Quick Take: 7 takeaways to improve EMS quality, staffing

Takeaways from the 90-plus posters on display at this year’s National Association of EMS Physicians annual meeting

January 30, 2023 01:32 PM

Rob Lawrence

What Paramedics Want

What paramedics want: Defining a path forward

Translating data into information, and information into action

November 09, 2022 12:35 PM

Fitch & Associates

Legal Issues

EMT said Pa. COVID patient didn’t need to go to the hospital. She died the next day.

Tamika Jones’s sister is seeking damages for wrongful death and gross negligence from two EMTs, Aston Township FD command personnel and others

February 24, 2023 02:30 PM

EMS Advocacy

AMA honors former Pelosi senior policy adviser with government service award

“Wendell Primus has been at the very center of virtually every major health and welfare bill” said AMA Board Chair Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer

February 15, 2023 02:12 PM

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Wash. city ends orders requiring COVID vaccines for first responders

Members who were previously terminated over the rule have the option to reapply for a position at the department

February 08, 2023 10:53 AM

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Biden to end pandemic emergency declarations on May 11

Vaccine costs are expected to rise, free at-home tests will end, and hospitals will no longer get extra payments for treating COVID-19 patients

February 01, 2023 12:19 PM

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Conn. essential workers to receive ‘hero pay’ bonuses starting in February

The Connecticut Premium Pay Program was created to provide up to $1,000 in bonuses to private sector employees who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic

January 13, 2023 04:50 PM

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Hospitalizations signal rising COVID-19 risk for U.S. seniors

Much of the increase is driven by older people and those with existing health problems, CDC director says

December 11, 2022 02:17 PM

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Connecticut, other states face growing cost of pandemic ‘hero pay’ for frontline workers

The state is no longer accept new applications and plans to increase funding by $76.6 million while implementing a tiered system

November 29, 2022 11:42 AM

Legal Issues

4 DCFEMS members ask judge to overturn policy against beards

The firefighters and EMS providers are also seeking damages they say they are owed from having to work desk jobs, which pay less, for 18 months

November 28, 2022 02:09 PM

EMS1 Research Center

Report: EMS workers face higher infection risk than other first responders

The research also shows the effectiveness of on-site vaccine clinics and educational programs, as well as vaccine mandates

November 23, 2022 12:13 PM

Infectious Diseases

Early flu adding to woes for U.S. hospitals

“COVID was the ultimate bully. It bullied every other virus for two years,” said Dr. Mark Griffiths. As COVID-19 rates go down, “they’re coming back full force”

November 20, 2022 09:16 AM

Public Health

Safety equipment group honors Fauci with distinguished service award

“The safety equipment industry deserves high praise for your work during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the physician-scientist

November 15, 2022 02:42 PM

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Report faults Calif. firefighters for not entering acute care center to treat dying patient in 2021

A Rialto captain, an FF-medic and an engineer are contesting disciplinary actions taken against them

November 07, 2022 10:34 AM

Safety

Prioritizing community safety and risk reduction with the help of green technology

Sandwich (MA) Fire Chief John Burke reflects on how properly disposing medical waste has helped safeguard his community against COVID-19, the opioid epidemic and in-house medical care

October 26, 2022 06:32 PM

John J. Burke, CFO, MPEM

Ebola

Ebola virus disease Sudan Strain emerges in Uganda

CDC issues Health Advisory Network Health Advisory, for healthcare workers to be aware of the Ebola outbreak

October 25, 2022 12:55 PM

Rob Lawrence

Ebola

EMS strategies for Ebola with Dr. Alex Isakov

Identify, isolate, and inform: The current situation on COVID, Ebola and Monkeypox

October 25, 2022 12:00 PM

Rob Lawrence

Recruitment & Retention

Wis. FD to no longer require U.S. citizenship for firefighters, EMTs

The Madison Fire Department said it is adapting to a “changing economic and technological landscape since the COVID-19 pandemic”

October 20, 2022 10:41 AM

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Conn. EMS provider dies of COVID-19

Mark A. Blake was a Westport EMS supervisor and served with his son and his brother at the Weston Volunteer Fire Department

September 27, 2022 03:37 PM

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Biden: Pandemic is over, but COVID-19 battle continues

Nearly 400 people a day are dying from COVID-19, but the public psychological impact has become less profound

September 20, 2022 01:47 PM

Vaccine

U.S. clears updated Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 boosters targeting newest variants

The hope is that the bivalent shots will thwart another winter surge

August 31, 2022 01:07 PM

Vaccine

Calif. county lifts first responder COVID-19 vaccine mandate

The mandate, lifted Tuesday, is being dropped now because the omicron subvariant BA.5 has become dominant, the county’s public health officer said

August 29, 2022 10:47 AM

EMS Training

NREMT permanently waives limits on online EMS training

The resolution applies to continuing education, recertification, state licensure eligibility, refresher training and re-entry

August 22, 2022 02:25 PM

CDC

CDC director announces organization shake-up aimed at speed

Many changes were announced, but the full slate must be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services secretary to go forward

August 17, 2022 01:21 PM

Recruitment & Retention

Increased competition requires a change in recruitment and retention strategies

New opportunities for EMS providers means agencies must be willing to address pay, morale and poor leadership

August 16, 2022 11:44 AM

Brent Crawford, MPA, NRP

Fire-EMS

How one FD added EMS during the pandemic

The Steubenville, Ohio Fire Department answered its community’s needs, launching EMS in under a year

August 11, 2022 04:45 PM

Todd Bowman, BA, NRP, FP-C

What Paramedics Want

What paramedics want in 2022

3,213 EMS providers speak up about job satisfaction, effective leadership, safety and innovation in the EMS Trend Survey

July 22, 2022 02:12 PM

Paramedic Chief Digital Edition

Communications Interoperability

Taking the stress out of communication

FirstNet’s Paul Patrick on resolving communication challenges during MCIs, pandemic response

July 14, 2022 01:34 PM

Inside EMS Podcast

Infectious Diseases

To prevent next pandemic, Bill Gates wants world leaders to fund global health team

In his new book, he says the key ideas are the team, improving testing, speeding vaccine and treatment development, and shoring up health systems

July 14, 2022 12:36 PM

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

FDA OKs first COVID-19 shots for infants, preschoolers

The CDC will issue its recommendation on vaccine administration after an upcoming vote

June 17, 2022 10:11 AM

Legislation & Funding

W.Va. allocates $10M to bolster EMS staffing

The initiative includes a recruiting campaign, no-cost trainings and giving current providers equipment and supplies

June 15, 2022 11:43 AM

Charity

EMS FDNY Help Fund names Verizon Frontline its 2022 partner of the year

The “Food for Frontline Workers” program made it possible to deliver more than 150,000 meals to frontline workers, including FDNY EMS members

June 03, 2022 01:19 PM