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Metro hospitals 'ready and prepared' as coronavirus hits Missouri, Kansas

Posted at 8:02 PM, Mar 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-08 21:02:07-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Missouri and Kansas react to the first presumptive-positive coronavirus cases, hospitals in the Kansas City metro have protocols in place.

An official with the University of Kansas Health System told 41 Action News that the staff is “ready and prepared.” The official said hospital staff handles severe respiratory patients regularly and is helping coordinate with other counties and state officials.

In a statement provided to 41 Action News, Truman Medical Center said its staff also is prepared to treat patients with coronavirus.

“While COVID-19 is a new health concern, TMC’s Infection Prevention team has had practice building its response while preparing for health threats such as swine flu, Ebola, and Zika,” the statement said. “Updated recommendations about stopping the spread of COVID-19 is coming from Missouri public health leaders, who are working with federal partners at Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control.”

An Advent Health spokesperson said a task force is “devoted” to preparing for coronavirus and staff regularly communicates with the Johnson County Health Department, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Our top priority is the safety of our team members and patients and preventing spread in our community,” according to the statement. “We have not had anyone meet the standards for testing for COVID-19 to date, but if that occurs we are prepared.”

Both Missouri and Kansas announced cases in press conferences Saturday night.

The global coronavirus outbreak was first identified in the Hubei Province of China in December 2019.