The ongoing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak have prompted some protocol changes for Lenoir County EMS.

Jerri King, Director of Lenoir County Emergency Services, said Lenoir County is following a protocol from the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Since the Lenoir/Jones County 911 Center is a certified Emergency Medical Dispatch Center, they are able to integrate the new COVID-19 protocols into the dispatch process for 911 calls. 

“Within this protocol, it actually provides us guidance on what questions we need to ask a citizen, and based on answers that we receive, we may dispatch a call as a high risk,” King said. 

On those high risk calls, King said, EMS workers would wear additional protective gear, to protect themselves and patients. Additionally, dispatchers would avoid sending first responders to those high risk calls, to limit the number of people potentially exposed to the virus. When the patient reaches the hospital, King said, there are plans in place to avoid entering the hospital via the Emergency Department, to further limit potential exposure. 

While they are taking these steps due to the virus, King said it is important for citizens to know that the 911 Center, Emergency Medical Services, and the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Department are still available 24/7 to assist in emergencies. 

For questions and concerns about the virus, King said the best source of information is not local emergency services.

“We would prefer them to not call the 911 center so that those lines are still available for emergencies,” King said.

Instead, citizens should utilize the NC State Coronavirus Hotline at (866) 462-3821. That 24-hour hotline is staffed by knowledgeable individuals who are available to provide any needed information.