Galesburg City Council
Two of the leaders of local efforts to prepare for and combat the spread of coronavirus spoke before the Galesburg City Council last night.
Public Health Director Michele Gabriel and Knox County Emergency Management Coordinator Randy Hovind gave an overview of where Knox County is in its planning and what residents can do to protect themselves.
Hovind is working on a Continuity of Operations Plan or COOP plan, that coordinates how essential government services stay operating during an emergency.
“Citywide, we’ve already pushed out this plan to the department heads. They’re going to come back and let us know what the essential services are and what the backup plans are so… that plan can be used at any time and the county will be working on theirs as well.”
Hovind says that the plan can be used for anything, including tornadoes.
Gabriele says the distribution of PPE, or personal protective equipment, is limited to prevent individuals or agencies from hoarding supplies.
But she assures that agencies are working throughout the county to make sure entities that need PPE’s get them.
Gabriele says currently there are no Knox County cases, and there has been a limited amount of testing locally.
“Not because there are not tests available but solely because there have not been cases that technically qualify to be tested or justify actually testing for the virus.”
Gabriele emphasizes that individuals who are mildly ill even with COVID-19 do not need to be tested.
The recommendation is still to test individuals who display symptoms, and not testing just anybody that wants one, in order to keep the healthcare system from being overwhelmed.
She says if Knox County residents do have a respiratory illness they are still at a low-risk for it being coronavirus.
Gabriele reiterated the need to wash hands, practice social distancing and staying home if you’re experiencing symptoms.
If you do need to seek medical treatment for what you suspect is Coronavirus, call your healthcare provider ahead of time, even if it’s the emergency room.
Both hospitals in the community have access to testing according to Gabriele, including access to private testing in addition to the state lab.
Hovind says he’s been in contact with service agencies on steps if an outbreak leads to economic hardship for families.
