Preparedness and Communications

Boston officials realized COVID-19 could overwhelm even the high-class hospital system of their local area, so they created a new facility, Boston Hope, with help from state and private partners.

While that’s good news for Hawaii residents and the state’s health-care system, experts say it‘s too soon to begin relaxing the statewide stay-at-home order, quarantine orders or other restrictions that have been imposed.

Norman, Okla.'s Emergency Management Coordinator David Grizzle said it’s unlikely that people will be able to keep six feet of distance between themselves and others in storm shelters, which are typically small spaces.

RapidDeploy, in collaboration with Microsoft, enables PSAPs to maintain operations while telecommunicators work from the safety of their homes.

Software tools to improve situational awareness and decision making during COVID-19 response.

Americans send roughly 26 billion text messages a day, yet most 911 call centers cannot receive them. Enabling Text-to-911 can make emergency response more effective — especially during a time of crisis.

Gov. David Ige’s office said his administration is looking to implement “a public health alert network system” in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic that continues to spread across the islands.

As COVID-19 spreads across the world, a new virus is brewing and spreading like wildfire. From miraculous cures to paranoid conspiracies, misinformation about the coronavirus has been going viral at a disturbing rate.

Officials from 15 states and several federal agencies participated in the exercise. The fake flu pandemic eerily mirrors the real coronavirus outbreak the U.S. is struggling with now, right down to some of the recommendations.

Cleveland-area hospitals are further restricting visitor policies, effective immediately, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

For medical workers during this pandemic, a grim reality is emerging: Those who don’t contract COVID-19 could be redistributed to care for patients who do, thereby making them more likely to become infected.

"Our members are assuming on all their calls the person is positive. One person is entering in full mask, goggles and gown to determine the patient's condition. Others are only going in where necessary."

The first surge might not overwhelm hospital beds, emergency rooms and intensive care units. But with the experience of Italian hospitals as a telling recent precedent, some are bracing for a second surge.

Buffalo, like every U.S. community, has enough hospital beds to cover an influx from an average emergency like a snowstorm – but not enough for a nationwide pandemic, said Mark A. Sullivan, CEO of Catholic Health.

State and municipal leaders, as well as private-sector executives, have in recent days taken action on their own to shut down school districts, close offices, museums and other businesses and cancel major events.