Coronavirus (COVID19) Preparedness

Butler County Emergency Services (EMA) encourages residents to stay informed about the coronavirus situation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA-DOH) are closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) which was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.

What is EMA doing to prevent COVID-19 in the community?

Butler County has had a comprehensive Pandemic plan in place since 2007.  It was developed in conjunction with the PA-DOH and local Health officials.  This plan addresses potential long term impacts to County residents and businesses as well as a surge to the Medical facilities.  As the pandemic evolves, so will our plan. 

EMA is currently:

• educating the public and municipal authorities, which will help prevent anyone who may be contagious from transmitting the infection to others in Butler County.
• working with schools on appropriate response protocols.
• sending out guidance on a regular basis to our hospitals and private healthcare providers.
• remaining available to our partners and residents on a 24/7 basis.

These efforts are designed to make our community as prepared as possible to limit the spread of infection and to help assure that those who need care to recover are able to receive it.

Points to Remember:

• It is an airborne virus that is spread by humans just like a flu or cold virus.  Close personal contact, coughing, sneezing, touching, shaking hands, or touching infected surfaces are ALL ways it is spread.
• Symptoms include: Fever, Cough and Shortness of Breath and can appear in as few as 2 days to as long as 14 days.

Things YOU can do to help STOP the spread of germs:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
  • Put your used tissue in a waste basket
  • If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing
  • Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or
  • If soap and clean water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.
• If you are sick, STAY HOME until you feel better.  There is currently no treatment for COVID19.
• If there are any confirmed cases in the area, AVOID large gatherings.
• And lastly, monitor reliable media sources for accurate information such as:
  • Here at Butler County Emergency Services’ webpage
  • The CDC website, click here www.cdc.gov or on the picture below
  • The PA-DOH website, click here www.health.pa.gov

All of these efforts are designed to make our community and schools as prepared as possible to limit the spread of infection and to help assure that those who need care to recover are able to receive it.