Message From Washington County’s Emergency Operations Center Team

January 21, 2022

LINES AT WASHINGTON COUNTY AMBULANCE HEADQUARTERS – This is a file photo from February 2021, while the County was hosting a vaccination clinic in the middle of a Winter storm. The County Ambulance has been having lines again, ` almost a year later, with positive cases of Covid showing up in large numbers across the area. Supply chains for all kinds of goods for the public have been challenged and along with the every day items people seek are also the tests, medical supplies and more. Area hospitals have been stretched to their limits and beyond as illnesses continue to spread. Take precautions and stay healthy.

The Washington County Emergency Operations Center Incident Command Team continues to meet and work to address the every changing and ongoing challenges that are being faced locally during the continued Covid pandemic.

The ‘Team’ includes Justin Duncan, Washington County Ambulance; Amber Coleman, Washington County Memorial Hospital; Shawnee Douglas, Washington County Health Department; Greg Roeback, Great Mines Health Center; Chief Mike Gum, City of Potosi Police; Dave Sansegraw, Washington County Presiding Commissioner; Zach Jacobsen, Washington County Sheriff; and Nick Branson, Emergency Management.

To Our Community:

We appreciate your patience and cooperation during these unusual times. Please be advised there are critical issues regarding access to COVID testing and supplies.

COVID TESTING: Testing supplies are low at this time. We are working through all avenues to get ample access to safe and accurate testing materials. We had healthy supply chains in the Fall but now there is a shortage of testing supplies and access is very limited. Some supplies are simply not available at this time. We continue to seek these supplies.

COVID INFUSIONS: Monoclonal Antibodies Infusions (IV therapy) are also very limited. We are working through all avenues to get more infusion supplies in stock. Prior orders from the state were cancelled and vendors are unable to fill requests at this time. We continue to seek these supplies.

PLEASE, IF SICK, STAY HOME: If you know or think you have COVID or have any COVID-like symptoms, please stay home! Wash your hands. Social distance. Wear a mask. Get vaccinated and/or boosted if you are willing and able to do so. History with COVID shows that unvaccinated individuals are more likely to require intense care, hospitalization or, worse, not survive. Whether vaccinated or not, if you have any COVID-like symptoms, avoid contact as others you expose may end up hospitalized. Your help is needed to stop the rapid spread.

PLEASE, BE RESPECTFUL: Our healthcare system is greatly stressed right now. Health workers are doing their best at times when many staff are out sick or unable to work. Many issues are outside their control.

It cannot be stressed enough, people are becoming very sick, and many health facilities and hospitals are at or over capacity.